Stevenage Film Director, Sarah Leigh, has had a diverse career in the film industry, engaging in roles such as acting, writing, and producing. Sarah describes herself as a storyteller at heart, driven by a love for bringing stories to life. “I love telling stories—I’m a storyteller at heart. I see my work in front of and behind the camera as all working towards the goal of bringing a story to life.” Her work in both writing and acting is unified by a desire to create narratives that are significant and reflective of society. While Sarah finds it hard to single out one project as the most fulfilling, she holds a special regard for those that have left a lasting impact on audiences and prompted important conversations. “It’s hard to pinpoint one project as the most fulfilling, as I take something away from everything I do. But the projects which have stayed with me the most are the ones that have made an impact on the audience and leave them asking questions!” A key focus of her career has been ensuring the representation of disabled people both on and off the screen.
Sarah’s motivation to transition from acting to producing and writing stemmed from a desire to tell untold stories and to showcase authentic experiences derived from lived realities. “I was motivated to shift into writing, directing, and producing as there were untold stories that I wanted to create and to showcase authentic work that comes from lived experience. As an actor, you’re always reading someone else’s words. I love acting, but I didn’t always get to tell the stories that I was passionate about.”
Sarah’s commitment to equity and accessibility is profoundly influenced by her personal experiences with her youngest son, who has high support needs. Navigating a world filled with barriers has fuelled Sarah’s determination to break down these obstacles. “I have never seen anyone like my son represented on screen, and he deserves to see himself reflected in storytelling. I also hate seeing barriers in place that do not need to exist—in the industry and in the world in general. This is my driving force!”
In collaboration with East & North Herts NHS Trust at Lister Hospital, Sarah co-produced the Healthcare Passport for children with complex health needs and learning disabilities. “I co-produced the Healthcare Passport with Eleanor Willis, a complex care specialist nurse at Lister Hospital. I had several experiences with my son where his access requirements weren’t met, and I knew that this couldn’t continue. Children with disabilities and/or complex health needs deserve equitable healthcare. The Passport lists all the ‘need-to-know’ information about a child and acts as a quick reference for access needs, medication, professionals involved with care, etc. It also includes likes and dislikes and what might make an appointment easier for a child. Quite often, we’re asked to revisit a whole history of our child when entering a room, and the document can help to provide this information upfront, so we don’t have to do this each time.”
Securing a “Changing Places” toilet at Lister Hospital has been another significant achievement. The facility includes an adult-size changing bed and a hoist, addressing the needs of individuals requiring such amenities. “Having a Changing Places toilet at the hospital now means I don’t have to change my son on the floor. The difference this makes to the community is huge. Quite often, we’re unable to visit places if they don’t have accessible changing facilities. This really needs to change. I hope that one day every park, supermarket, attraction, and town centre has one—it really is a step towards inclusion.”
Reflecting on the film industry, Sarah sees the necessity for structural changes to improve equity and accessibility. Sarah advocates for the mandatory inclusion of a point person for access on all film sets. “During Covid, we quickly had a whole Covid department set up—roles dedicated to testing, hygiene, etc.—why can’t we do the same for access? It really can be done, and we have proved that on our own film sets. Access should never be an afterthought, and I would love to see all productions become equitable for all and all needs taken into account. We also need shorter working days. It’s the norm in our industry to work for 15/16 hours a day. We do things differently and work for 8 hours maximum per day on our sets. This is an anomaly but something I want to see become the norm!”
Continuing to promote representation both on and off-screen is extremely important to Sarah. “I am currently developing my first feature (full-length) film. I’m excited about this and to continue with representation on and off-screen.” She envisions a future where accessibility is a fundamental part of pre-production in the film industry and where healthcare settings fully accommodate the needs of all individuals. “I would love to see a future where access is implemented from the very early stage of pre-production in the film industry—where it is no longer an afterthought. In healthcare, I would love for my son’s access requirements to be met when entering a building and for him to be treated in an equitable and dignified way. My role? I will keep pushing for these changes as best I can!”
Sarah’s journey has been filled with rewarding experiences, particularly the joy of collaboration and witnessing others create their own work inspired by their joint efforts. “I love collaborating and find it hugely rewarding when others create their own work off the back of our collaborations.” Sarah draws inspiration from several figures: her teacher, Mrs Guppy, (Nobel School, Stevenage) who instilled a belief in boundless potential; Ava DuVernay, whose film work and advocacy for inclusion resonate deeply with Sarah; Ken Loach, for his socially impactful films; and Judith Heumann, a dedicated Disability Rights Activist.
To those aspiring to follow in Sarah’s footsteps, whether in the film industry or advocacy, Sarah offers simple yet powerful advice: follow your dreams. “Follow your dreams. There will always be people who say that a film/TV career isn’t realistic, but it is. Do what makes you happy and find purpose in what you do.”
Sarah’s affection for Stevenage is profound. Having lived there since the age of four, Sarah cherishes memories of Fairlands Lakes, from childhood days at the paddling pools to visiting with her own children. “I have lived here since I was four. Fairlands Lakes have played a big part in my life, from being a kid hanging out at the paddling pools and the ship, to having my own children and taking them there. I love the sense of community in Stevenage, and the library is one of my favourite places to go to. I’m proud to be from Stevenage.”
To keep up to date with Sarah’s work, you can follow her journey here:
https://www.instagram.com/sarahleighfilm
https://www.instagram.com/inclusivityfilms
https://www.facebook.com/InclusivityFilms
