“Tegan and Sara’s discovery of sexuality and music really felt like my coming of age”: Clea DuVall and twins Seazynn and Railey Gilliland on High School

Series adaptation High School is taken from the published memoirs of Canadian indie-pop duo sensation Tegan and Sara and brought to the screen by producer and director Clea DuVall – also a longtime friend of the identical twin sisters. 

The narrative unfolds as a coming-of-age comedy drama set against a backdrop of 90s grunge and the hedonistic rave scene, starring real-life identical twin sisters Railey and Seazynn Gilliland. It explores the many adolescent layers of awakening sexuality, drink, drugs and the sibling rivalry that rose to the surface as the twins were growing up. It also looks at home dynamics with their parents, their experience of divorce and then navigating a stepfather figure, whilst pushing the boundaries within the family setting. 

The girls’ journey of self-discovery is moved along by their love of music. A beautifully curated period soundtrack accompanies the feature, while viewers also follow the personal musical path the twins took to reach their status as platinum recording artists. 

The Upcoming had the pleasure of talking to series creator DuVall about her decision to bring this story to light, finding the Galliland sibling duo through TikTok videos, and what it was like to work once again with Cobie Smulders (who features as the twins’ mother, Simone). We also spoke to Railey and Seazynn about being discovered and cast in their roles, what it was like working together, and the process of preparing to play versions of these two musical icons. 

Ezelle Alblas

High School is released on Amazon Freevee on 14^th October 2022. Read our review here.

Watch the trailer for season one of High School here: