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Interview: Celebrating Pay it Forward 9/11 

Come From Away superfan Lydia Greatrix

Everything Theatre discovered Lydia Greatrix on Instagram a few months ago, and was intrigued by her Pay it Forward events for Come From Away’s UK tour. In this interview, she shares her motivations, experiences, and future plans for the project.


Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what inspired your Pay it Forward venture with Pay it Forward 9/11?

Hello! I’m Lydia. I fell in love with Come From Away when I saw it in London in 2019. At that time, I was finishing university while grappling with my future and accepting my neurodivergence. Theatre has always been my safe space but after completing my degree in Broadcast Journalism I felt disconnected from the theatre community. CFA reignited my passion, especially with its themes of kindness and activism, which resonated deeply with my teenage drive to campaign and my belief in “if not me, then who?”

In September 2022, I had the incredible opportunity to visit Gander, Newfoundland, the setting for CFA. There, I met Kevin Tuerff, a real-life Plane Person who founded Pay it Forward 9/11 to honor the kindness shown in Gander and remember the 2,977 lives lost on September 11 2001. After leading the charity for 20 years without significant recognition in the UK, Kevin asked me and my CFA UK friends for help in raising awareness across the Atlantic. My mind started racing with possibilities, though I wasn’t yet sure what the outcome would be.

My friend Laura Townsend was a beloved figure in the CFA fanbase, known for her podcast Meanwhile On Our Plane and her global support for the show’s productions. We shared a few memorable experiences, including a gala night in November 2022 when she suggested we follow the UK Tour and donate to homeless shelters and soup kitchens. Initially sceptical, I later embraced her vision. Tragically, Laura was diagnosed with cancer and passed away in June 2023, just before a planned trip to Gander. To honour her kind spirit and adventurous nature, I decided to carry out her idea during the tour.

Organising charity events at different locations around the UK when the show is only in town for a week seems like an insurmountable task – how do the logistics work?

This tour has been one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences of my life! The short answer? A chaotic but well-thought-out spreadsheet. The long answer? I’ve been incredibly fortunate to receive support throughout the planning process from fellow CFA friends, colleagues, Kevin T, the Board of Directors at Pay it Forward 9/11, and the CFA team. I tapped into the insights of my Instagram community to brainstorm good deeds for each city, secure funding, and execute our plans.

I reached out to theatres about 4-6 weeks before each run, introducing myself and discussing how we could spread kindness in their community. Most of these initiatives involved Zoom calls with Marketing Managers, late-night editing, and creating assets to keep the CFA fanbase informed. A turning point was launching my Crowdfunder in May: within 10 days, we raised £1,000, allowing the tour to expand into more cities. I’m so grateful for everyone’s generosity!

Why do you think social action is so well embraced within the theatre community?

The arts attract passionate people eager for representation and storytelling, both as fans and creatives. Theatre, in particular, draws kids like me who want to see change; we often seek escape and inspiration from the stories told.

I like to think there’s a ripple effect at play — when you see someone, whether on stage or in real life, perform a small act of kindness, it encourages you to get involved and do your own good deed. I’ve definitely witnessed this during my tour this year, and it’s been one of the most heartwarming parts of the journey!

What has been a highlight of the tour so far for you?

My highlight was the PiF campaign in Ipswich, where I collaborated with the Ipswich Housing Action Group. Since Ipswich is my local theatre, I wanted to be hands-on, and a friend suggested helping a local homelessness charity. After six weeks of planning, we collected over 70 crates of supplies — an overwhelming response!  They later told me it took them 6-8 weeks to use all the Pot Noodles we gathered, and they’re still working through hundreds of tins of food!

What are your plans for the rest of the tour?

My next PiF event is in Wimbledon on 12 October, where I invite everyone to join me in buying coffee for strangers. We’ll meet at 11am outside the theatre, and I’m excited to bring this movement to the capital!

I’m also planning more donation drives. There’s still much to do, but it’s been a privilege to see Laura’s wish come to life. It’s heartening to notice theaters across the country launching their own food bank drives and kindness initiatives aligned with CFA’s values. I hope this spirit continues year-round, making a lasting impact in local communities

If you could follow another tour around the UK with Pay it Forward 9/11, which one would it be and why? 

I believe CFA is the only show I’d follow with Pay it Forward 9/11 since the charity is uniquely tied to it. However, I recently discovered another musical that inspires me just as much: Suffs on Broadway. This show tells the story of a group of friends fighting for women’s voting rights in America from 1913 to 1920. The music and story are beautiful, and it features an all-female/non-binary diverse cast.

I deeply relate to Alice Paul, the movement’s leader. Shaina Taub, who plays her, also wrote the book and score, winning two Tonys this year. She’s a fierce activist, believing theatre can drive social change. I’m so inspired by her and would love to see Suffs come to the UK to ignite similar movements. You can bet I’ll be close by wherever it plays!iew with images


Thanks very much to Lydia for sharing her inspiring story with us.

You can donate to her Crowdfunding page here.

Follow Lydia’s pay it forward story on Instagram and TikTok.

Come From Away plays at the New Wimbledon Theatre until Saturday 12th October before continuing on a UK tour. For further information and booking are available here.

You can read our latest Come From Away review here.

About Everything Theatre

Everything Theatre is proud to support fringe theatre, not only in London but beyond. From reviews to interviews, articles and even a radio show, our work is at the heart of the industry, and we are official assessors for the Off West End OffComm awards. Founded in 2011 as a pokey blog run by two theatre enthusiasts, today we are staffed by diverse contributors - people who not only work in theatre, but also in law, medicine, marketing and even psychiatry! We are all united by our love for theatre.