Twin sisters turn life and illness into comedy play

Two sisters have turned a lifetime of questions about being identical twins into an autobiographical comedy that explores family, illness and resilience.

Anna and Georgina Lewis, from Hastings, initially wrote about challenging the common misconceptions of twins.

However the project took on a more personal focus when Anna was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024 shortly after the sisters' 40th birthday.

"Throughout my treatment, I wrote letters to Georgina to process what was happening and to help pass time," Anna told the BBC.

"Cancer is very frightening, and a lot of treatment is quite repetitive."

Anna said while she was recovering from a bilateral mastectomy in hospital, she saw a notification about a free playwriting course offered at Hastings Theatre Project.

She immediately applied, believing it was a "sign" for them to tell their story on a stage.

The sisters said those letters, combined with their earlier writings, formed the basis of their play, titled Unravelling Twins.

Their story explores themes including twin identity, cancer and friendship while using humour to navigate difficult experiences.

Georgina explained part of the play was about "demystifying cancer and treatment".

"There is so much people don't know, from different types of surgery to how patients and carers prepare for chemotherapy," she says.

The sisters said their project was supported by the local community, raising £3,700 through a crowdfunding campaign.

Co-produced by Hastings Theatre Project, the fully developed production will make its debut at the White Rock Theatre on 16 September, with the sisters hoping to take the show to wider audiences in the future.

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