17 – 22 May
Jade is a 10-year old schoolgirl who, on a trip to a local museum, finds herself lost and alone in the Gallery of Greatness, a place where she is told she does not belong. She reveals to us the backdrop of her parents’ recent separation, and so begins her journey of self-discovery as she seeks to find her place in the world, and her identity. To help her are a dozen of the most influential and iconic female characters from history who, over the course of the next 75 minutes, take Jade, and the audience, on an all-singing, all-dancing, exhilarating, informative and highly entertaining ride through two centuries of feminine empowerment.
Produced by the same team who brought us Six The Musical, Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World is a vibrant, high-energy, musical rendering of Kate Pankhurst’s celebrated picture book of the same name. The eponymous heroines include many familiar names: Amelia Earhart, Jane Austen and Marie Curie for example, but also less well-known figures such as Mary Anning and Sacagawea, whose merits and achievements are no less significant. All of them are transferred from page to stage by a very talented all-female cast who each breathe energy and humour into multiple roles, bringing these inspirational characters to life and briefly exploring their respective stories and legacies.
Visually and stylistically, the show is stunning: the choreography is slick and well-rehearsed; the singing and dancing are rousing, uplifting and incorporate a range of styles and genres, and the staging is clever and imaginative, with three female musicians on an elevated platform showcasing their impressive skills across a range of instruments. There are some memorable musical set-pieces, not least Kirstie Skivington’s Amelia Earhart leading a stirring performance of the anthemic “Deeds not Words”, whilst the closing number, “Fantastically Great” ensures the whole show finishes on a powerful, life-affirming high.
Whilst the show rightly celebrates the achievements of these remarkable and inspiring women, a 75-minute, one-act show does not allow all of their respective narratives to be fleshed out in sufficient detail. With some of the characters, we are given little more than a brief introduction to their “greatness”. But perhaps that is all we need? This is a rollocking, pulsating and very engaging slice of theatrical girl power after all, not a GCSE History lesson.
The show has an appeal across the entire age range. Young children, teenagers, parents, grandparents and families of all ages will, like tonight’s audience, enjoy what is an energetic, vibrant and engaging show, and the rapturous applause at the end was fully deserved by such a multi-talented cast, delivering a witty, clever and well-crafted script. Furthermore, despite being the butt of a few jokes, the male of the species will also find much to enjoy, and laugh at, in a performance which, whilst celebrating a diverse range of wonderful feminine triumphs and achievements, does not in any way alienate a male audience. On the contrary, I challenge anyone of any gender or age not to hugely enjoy Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World.
★★★★☆ Tony Clarke 18th May
Photo credit: Pamela Raith Photography
