This year, International Women’s Day falls on Sunday 8^th March. It’s a day that commemorates women’s fight for equality and liberation. This year’s theme is “Give to Gain” and what could be better than celebrating the fabulous women of the EAT who give their time and energy to entertain our audiences and keep our wonderful little theatre running smoothly.

Four of our Members have shared their thoughts on the great female roles in theatre, their own experiences and why the EAT is important to them.

Susie Clarke joined the theatre to take part in the 2016 production of A Christmas Carol, directed by the late Keith Neville, and then choreographed his production of You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown. She’s a great supporter of the theatre and will be working on this summer’s production of Blood Brothers (play version).

Jo Gleeson joined us when she was cast in The Revlon Girl in our 2023-24 season, and since then has appeared in War of the Worlds and, most recently, Deathtrap and The Flint Street Nativity in our current season.

Maureen Hardwen is a founder member of the EAT and helped to raise funds and build the theatre. She has appeared on stage and directed plays at the theatre, most recently appearing in The Ladykillers (another Keith Neville production) and War of the Worlds.

Penny Walshe also joined the theatre for the 2023-24 season, appearing in It’s a Wonderful Life and The Revlon Girl. She now serves on the Interim Management Committee looking after marketing and communications for the EAT.

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Just a few of our recent plays with fantastic parts for women!

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Talking about women in theatre they admire:

Jo: I have so much admiration for Dame Julie Walters and the way she can adapt to any role perfectly. Two contrasting roles I love are Mrs Wilkinson in Billy Elliott and June in Buster and, of course, Rita (Educating Rita)!! 

Maureen: I greatly admire Judi Dench.  On TV she recited a Shakespearean sonnet.  Arnold Schwarzenegger on the same show remarked that Judi had more lines in the sonnet than he had had in all his films put together.

Susie: I have two favourite actors!! My number one is the incredible Sally Hawkins, well she does look a bit like my own daughter! (Ed: I can confirm she does!). But, she is underrated in my opinion and should at least have an OBE!! People know her for the Paddington movies, and maybe The Shape of Water, but, if you haven’t yet seen her in the movie Maudie you are missing out, it is a heart-breaking performance.

I also love and admire Lesley Manville – the TV series Mum was one of the funniest I have ever watched – again, underrated!!

And their favourite roles:

Jo: So many! I love becoming the characters I’m playing and all for different reasons! But, Sian from The Revlon Girl, Lady Macbeth, Mary McGinty from Once a Catholic and Barbara from Billy Liar are some that stand out. 

Maureen: I loved playing Edna in Prisoner of Second Avenue and Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine in Lion in Winter.  I loved these parts, and found they both had humour and pathos. l also enjoyed directing a play called A Kiss On The Bottom by Frank Vickery.  I didn’t choose the play, and would have loved to have been in it.  The director dropped out, and I was asked if I would direct it.  Again with pathos (set in a cancer ward) and humour – one patient received a birthday card from her husband, and didn’t even get “a kiss on the bottom” of the card!

Penny: I have mainly performed in musical theatre and have a penchant for playing tragic Victorian sex workers – Nancy in Oliver! and Marie Kelly in Jack the Ripper stand out – alongside some classic soprano roles like Mabel in Pirates of Penzance and Julie in Carousel, a story that, if you know it, isn’t perhaps the best representation of female empowerment but the music is stunning! In straight plays, I’ve particularly loved Helene Hanff in 84 Charing Cross Road and Rona in The Revlon Girl.

Susie: Anne Frank, around 100 years ago!,   I feel that if Anne had lived, she would have been such a brilliant writer, maybe of plays too! I also played Annie Sullivan in The Miracle Worker –  she taught Helen Keller sign language, she was partially blind herself – such a strong woman!!     

And which three women would they invite to a dinner party:

Jo:
Audrey Hepburn, I’d love to hear about all her films and what was her favourite!
Julie Walters, I’d ask her if she prefers doing comedy or ‘serious acting’! 
Alison Steadman, I’d love to know if Beverly from Abigail’s Party was one of her favourite parts to play!

Susie:
I would love to have met the Russian Professor of Ballet, Agrippina Vaganova, as she invented the very best ballet system ever !
The ex-SNP politician Mhairi Black – I have met her , but I would love to have a drink with her – she is fun and she supports the WASPI women!
The writer and director Joan Littlewood who wrote Oh What a Lovely War! In my opinion this play should be included in the National Curriculum. I bet she was fun to be with but maybe a dragon to work with!!

And finally, why should women get involved with the EAT?

Jo: The EAT is a great place to do what you love doing alongside others who enjoy the same, so you all have a great time doing what you’re doing with an amazing outcome for all to see! (Ed: which ties in perfectly with this year’s theme, “Give to Gain”)

Penny: Our brilliant women are involved in every aspect of running the theatre – on stage, directing, stage managing, technical support, wardrobe and props, Front of House, running the Bar and generally keeping the theatre running. Whatever your interest or talent, gender will NEVER stop you from doing what you want to do. Our new bar manager, Deanna, also pointed out that our bar is a safe and welcoming space that she’d feel fine visiting as a woman on her own. And that’s something to be proud of.

This is just a little insight into the women who love the EAT. I’ll be posting full interviews over the next few weeks, and if you’d like to tell your story, contact Penny at marketing@edwardalderton.org

Check back for International Men’s Day in November when I’ll be highlighting the brilliant men who give so much to the theatre.

Have you got a favourite woman in theatre or three dinner party guests? Share them in the comments.