• Advertise
  • Request Review
  • Write for Us
  • Privacy
  • Login

Theatre Bubble

The UK Theatre Network

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Reviews
  • News
  • Features
  • Spotlight
  • Opinions
  • Interviews
  • Guides

Glasgow Girls at Theatre Royal Stratford East

September 27, 2016 by Paul Hegarty Leave a Comment

Review of: Glasgow Girls
Musical:
Devised and directed by Cora Bisset with book by David Greig

Reviewed by: Paul Hegarty
Rating:
4
On September 27, 2016
Last modified:September 27, 2016

Summary:

A political struggle well told. Credit to Theatre Royal Stratford East for welcoming back this popular, provocative and entertaining piece of theatre. GLASGOW GIRLS plays from September 20th until October 1st.

More Details

Rather like London buses, when you thought one would never turn up, two come along at once! So it was with theatre productions from Scotland this week, as one production graced the stage on the South Bank and the other, GLASGOW GIRLS, burst onto the Theatre Royal Stratford East, with its high octane enthusiasm and a mission to explain the plight of temporary immigration.

Glasgow-Girls-1024x672

 

GLASGOW GIRLS cast Theatre Royal Stratford East. (Image by Sharon McHendry)

Glasgow Girls is an entertaining and thought provoking evening with a lot of heart that demanded engagement and involvement from its East End audience. Their performances were generous and inviting in comparison to the smart, slick but self-serving approach taken by those on the South Bank. Where they alienated, the East End included, where there might have been perpetual egotism at the expense of character this Stratford East Theatre company exposed the complexity of poverty, in a stricken but caring working class community, they lifted each other up; decrying racism, daring to excel, demanding to be heard as they challenged human rights and government policy. Set against the backdrop of Drumchapel tower blocks a story of despair and bravery unfolded as the local High school allowed for personal expression and political activism among the asylum seekers, and as it spread through both school and community, they were bound by a vision of fairness for the destitute, and we witnessed excellent story telling about the vulnerable and needy.

In this production the working class were not ridiculed or demonized and women were thinking, proactive and bound by resisting exploitation, whatever their economic status, creed or colour. They looked beyond themselves and were empowered through political activism instead of shallow sectarianism.

GLASGOW GIRLS depicted real lives with good and honorable intentions telling a story important to hear. This company embraced a multi cultural Glasgow, with all its problems and was beautifully symbolized by the musical fusion, where a range of cultural sounds that were inherent in song, and accompaniment. Equally impressive –  this fusion was also in dance – as the mixture of Gay Gordon or Strip the Willow seemed to fuse happily with more esoteric, dervish style range of moves. These vocal and physical metaphors gave us a modern outward looking Scotland, where differences were celebrated and the good in people was expected and seen, rather than suspected and foully expressed with derision, as in the South Bank. A wide age range of performers, both male and female helped deliver GLASGOW GIRLS compelling message as the production really did capture ‘there but for the Grace of God’ attitude. We are all Glasgow girls, as Noreen explained, making the young girls realize that it takes all sorts to mobilise a political campaign. It may take a community to raise a child, but it certainly takes one to save them from deportation.

There were powerful performances across the board from the all-female cast but Stephanie McGregor and Rebecca Donnelly excelled with their delivery, ranging from the fun and entertaining to the sad and desperate. The second half allowed the talented Terry Neason to use her long-standing experience to great effect as she delivered her monologue to the audience with skill and wit and her range of finely sketched characters throughout were always finely tuned.

Some dramatic sound effects along with bold lighting states, courtesy of Lizzie Powell and Fergus O’Hare constantly grabbed the attention of the audience. This was a story where we had to sit up and listen. A remit effectively met by the director and composer, Cora Bissett as the piece moved swiftly along punctuated by catchy dance sounds and an excellent remix by Michael Asante. The programme notes explaining the future success of the campaigners was inspiring and it would have perhaps been uplifting to have been included in the show but it was nonetheless a powerful message at the end of David Greig’s script, as the company challenged the audience about the on-going struggle of asylum seekers. I can imagine the Theatre of Scotland must be kicking themselves for not investing more heavily in this worthy production – this was a horse worth backing and if you’re quick, you can catch it running throughout this month. I bet you’ll love it!

Credit to Theatre Royal Stratford East for welcoming back this popular, provocative and entertaining piece of theatre.

It plays from September 20th until October 1st.

 

 

Author: Paul HegartyPaul is a reviewer and an experienced actor who has performed extensively in the West End (Olivier nominated) and has worked in TV, radio and a range of provincial theatres. He is also a speech, drama and communications examiner for Trinity College London, having directed productions for both students and professionals and if not busy with all that he is then a teacher of English.

Filed Under: Featured, Review Tagged With: Glasgow Girls, Theatre Royal Stratford East

Join the discussion Cancel reply

NEWS / ZU-UK presents Radio Ghost

ZU-UK presents Radio Ghost, a walking game for three participants journeying through a haunted shopping mall. Premiering at LIFT Festival [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Sophie Leydon on Rapture at Pleasance London

Sophie Leydon (She/Her) is a Writer and Director whose practice centres staging LGBTQIA+ experience through interdisciplinary forms. She tells us [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Claire Cunningham talks 4 Legs Good in BE festival

Garden State (8 – 11 June) is an art installation made up of hundreds of houseplants lent by local residents [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Paul Bourne talks about Bliss at the Finborough Theatre

Written by Fraser Grace (Breakfast with Mugabe, RSC), Bliss is based on a short story by censored writer Andrey Platonov. It’s at Finborough [Read More]

NEWS / Japanese Romeo and Juliet to the songs of Queen announced

Coming to Sadler’s Wells in September as part of its world tour, A Night At The Kabuki is a retelling [Read More]

Top Posts & Pages

  • 5 Stage Elements to Consider for a Rousing Theatrical Production
  • 10 Tips to Help You Prepare for Your Reality TV Auditions
  • ZU-UK presents Radio Ghost
  • Sophie Leydon on Rapture at Pleasance London
  • Amit Lahav - Artistic Director of Gecko Theatre
  • Ameena Hamid on Tales from the Tombstone Tavern
  • Ben Lloyd-Hughes in Kiss Me
  • The Jungle Book is coming to the Southbank - but not as you've seen it
  • After All This- Ovalhouse
  • Is this the real location of Ambridge?
  • Paul Hegarty
    Contributor

  • September 27th, 2016
  • comment iconNo Comments
  • Facebook2TweetLinkedInEmail

    Newsletter

    Enjoyed what you've read? Get even more great content directly to your inbox - Completely Free

    About Theatre Bubble

    Theatre Bubble is the news, review and blogging site created by Blue Pie Media and run by a dedicated team of outstanding editors and writers: we're always looking for new contributors - to find out more click here.

    Contact Us

    News: news@theatrebubble.com
    Reviews: reviews@theatrebubble.com
    Website: webmaster@theatrebubble.com

    Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2022 · Blue Pie Media

     

    Loading Comments...
     

      Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

      Email sent!