What the Women Did, Southwark Playhouse

There are countless theatrical offerings marking the centenary of the First World War, but few are focusing on the experiences of women. What The Women Did at the Southwark Playhouse promises just this female perspective, with a trio of short plays revealing the battle that took place on the home front.

The triple bill is made up of Luck of War by Gwen John, Handmaidens of Death by Herbert Tremaine and The Old Lady Shows Her Medals by J M Barrie. Handmaidens of Death and The Old Lady Shows Her Medals both deal in different ways with the loneliness of being without a loved one who is fighting on the front: in the former, young workers from an ammunition factory bemoan the lack of available bachelors left at home, while in Barrie’s tale an old woman pretends to have a son in the Black Watch. Luck of War, concerns an altogether different wartime issue, as widowed Ann remarries only for her original spouse to suddenly resurface.

These three relatively unknown plays were first rediscovered by Two’s Company and director Tricia Thorns in 2004, when they were performed together in a sell-out production at the Southwark Playhouse. This is now being remounted as the nation commemorates 100 years since the start of the First World War, offering a fascinating alternative view of this frequently depicted conflict.

Thorns and Two’s Company now have a formidable reputation for excavating forgotten plays. Earlier this year, their critically acclaimed production of John Van Druten’s London Wall transferred to the St James Theatre following a sell-out run at Fringe powerhouse the Finborough. If What The Women Did turns out to be anywhere near as successful, we suggest you snap up tickets sooner rather than later.

Tickets: £18, £16 concessions (£10 previews)

Address & Map:  77-85 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BD  ‎

Nearest Tube: Elephant & Castle,Borough