We all lead a double life

Double life for barrister and actress

Sally Taylor (middle) performing in the comedy Five Women Wearing the Same Dress.

AFTER a long day in court Sally Taylor hurriedly applies her bright orange lipstick, adjusts the two large flowers in her hair, slides on a pair of bright orange heels and steps on to the stage.

Ms Taylor leads a double life: barrister by day, actress by night.

She was a leading actress in Ipswich Little Theatre's recent production of Five Women Wearing the Same Dress.

Ms Taylor points out that her two seemingly opposing passions have a surprising amount in common.

"I think there is an element of performance in courtroom advocacy and I think there always will be," she said.

"The heroes and the villains in plays are just as complex as defendants or offenders or victims are in real life.

"I think the theatre can also reflect the need in the law to still see people as human."

While perched in the make-up chair, amid the organised chaos of the shared dressing room, Ms Taylor reflects on what draws her to amateur theatre.

"The community involvement appeals to me," she said.

"There are members of this theatre that have been members for 10, 20, 30 years.

"They perform, write, direct, design costumes, make sandwiches and they all come together for a love of live theatre."

The young mother, barrister and actress also understands the need to separate her work and personal lives.

"At the end of the day there are horrific things that occur in the world that maybe your family don't need to know about, and you leave them at work," she said.

"Theatre is a way of having something else in your mind that is light and funny as a distraction."

Co-director Sheryl Roche applauds Ms Taylor's ability to make the effortless transition from one role to another.

"You come to the theatre, you wipe your feet and you get rid of all your problems," she said