Music: Miranda Cooper and Jennifer Decilveo
Lyrics: Chris Bush and Miranda Cooper
Writer: Kate Pankhurst
Adaptor: Chris Bush
Director: Amy Hodge
Fantastically great women who rock the stage! From the moment they burst into song, this rousing musical has toes tapping, heads bobbing and fists punching the air.
Chris Bush’s adaptation of Kate Pankhurst’s children’s book finds Jade (Georgia Grant-Anderson) lost and forgotten in a museum following a school trip. Jade’s predicament could not be more relevant to today’s teenage girls. Living through her parents’ divorce, feeling lost, unseen and unheard and with no idea of what she wants to do with her life, she sits alone thinking about how she can make a difference in the world when she feels so powerless.
She wanders into a closed exhibition and finds herself face-to-face with Amelia Earheart (Leah Vassell) with her goggles and Gertrude Ederle (Chloe Hart) who pops out of a box to tell us all about being the first woman to swim across the Channel, and completing is “hours” faster than the men, much to the delight of the audience.
Directed by Amy Hodge, this colourful powerhouse show packs a punch. It updates the historical women just enough for the young audience to relate while remaining true to the stories of their time. Through the course of the performance, we discover the stories of Sacagawea and Frida Kahlo, both ably played by Elena Breschi whose character and accent work is second to none.
A comically sassy Jane Austen (also played by Chloe Hart) makes an appearance, though Jade struggles to work out who she is, until the mention of a certain film with Colin Farrell that her Nana loves. But the most heart-wrenching and poignant moment is saved for Leah Vassell as Rosa Parks, who introduces Anne Frank, reminding the young audience that not all fantastically great women’s stories have a happy ending, with a beautiful lullaby for future fantastic women.
The cast is simply stunning, with wonderful vocal performances and harmonies, modern choreography by Dannielle ‘Rhimes’ Lecointe which delights the young audience members and immaculate comedy timing. When Emmeline Pankhurst (Jennifer Caldwell) marches on, in fabulous purple military attire chanting “Deeds not words” the whole audience joins in with the chant with fists pumping the air.
Kate Pankhurst, the author of the original book, is “a little bit” related to Emmeline. “She was – wait for it – my great, great, grandfather’s, brother’s, son’s wife,” she announces on her website. Born in Liverpool, she now lives in Leeds, making her local-ish and a suffragette-ish. It’s easy to see that the connection has heavily influenced her work, in her Fantastically Great Women book series, which are a must-read for young women.
The simplistic, yet noisy set is utilised perfectly, allowing the women to take centre stage. It’s wonderful to see the female musicians taking centre stage as part of the production, and the highlighted drum section in Frida Kahlo’s song gives rise to one of the most joyful and ecstatic moments in modern theatre.
In a world where history lessons often revolve around the battles fought and won by men, the voices of women who have shaped our present through their resilience, intelligence, and bravery are frequently left unheard. Fantastically Great Women transcends the typical bounds of a theatrical performance, emerging as a vibrant and influential movement. This remarkable performance not only celebrates the achievements of women throughout history but also serves as a vibrant call to action for young women across the UK. It’s based on the premise that “well-behaved women very rarely make history,” and it’s precisely why it should be an essential part of every school curriculum.
Runs until Sunday 3rd March 2024