Class Struggles Inspire Hit Play by Cambridge Graduate

Jade Franks, a Cambridge graduate, has transformed her personal experiences of classism at the university into a hit play. While studying at Cambridge, Franks, from a working-class background, faced numerous challenges, including financial struggles that forced her to take up cleaning jobs in secret, due to university regulations that discouraged student employment. Throughout her academic journey, she confronted stereotyping and exclusion. Despite these obstacles, Franks persevered and ultimately became the president of Cambridge's renowned Footlights club, challenging the traditional norms within the organization. After completing her studies, she took her play to the Edinburgh Fringe, where it gained significant recognition and drew interest from Netflix for a TV adaptation. Franks hopes her work will ignite discussions about class disparities and inspire more working-class individuals to pursue careers in the arts.