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Theatre

Women in the spotlight: plays that showcase female talent

By Lucy Brooks on 7/3/2018

Blame tradition, blame apathy, blame misogyny – but the theatre industry has a long history of male dominance. Change is in the air, though a quick tally of the West End and beyond shows that we're still a long way from gender equality on stage and behind the scenes.
So we've rounded up some of the upcoming plays that showcase women – whether in the spotlight, writing the script, directing the play or running the theatre.

Fun Home, Young Vic Theatre

Looking for theatre that meets the 'two women converse about something other than a man' requirement of the Bechdel test? Well, you can’t do better than a story written by Alison Bechdel, the 'Dykes to Watch Out For' cartoonist and writer who coined the term. Fun House is a musical version of Bechdel's memoir, and it comes to the Young Vic after a rapturous premiere in New York.

WHEN

18 Jun 2018 – 01 Sep 2018, 19:30

WHERE

The Young Vic
66 The Cut , Waterloo, London, SE1 8LZ

The Writer, Almeida Theatre

Playwright Ella Hickson, director Blanche McIntyre and rising star actor Romola Garai are three of the most talented women working in theatre. So we have high hopes for this collaboration: a new play about a woman who wants to change the world.

WHEN

14 Apr 2018 – 26 May 2018, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM

WHERE

Almeida Theatre
Almeida Street, Islington, London, N1 1TA

Tina, Aldwych Theatre

From humble beginings in the 'Nutbush City Limits' to Rock and Roll world domination, Tina Turner's life story comes to the stage for 2018 in a new musical. Tina celebrates a star who refused to be limited or defined by her age, race or gender.

WHEN

21 Mar 2018 – 20 Oct 2018, 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM

WHERE

Aldwych Theatre
49 Aldwych, London, WC2B 4DF

Laura Linney: My Name is Lucy Barton comes to Bridge Theatre

My Name is Lucy Barton, Bridge Theatre

American actor Laura Linney will take the spotlight in a 90-minute monologue based on Elizabeth Strout's best-selling novel My Name is Lucy Barton. It's a sharp, moving story of self-discovery, as a young woman is confronted with her mother and her past.

WHEN

02 Jun 2018 – 23 Jun 2018, 7:45 PM – 9:45 PM

WHERE

Bridge Theatre
One Tower Bridge, London, SE1 2UP

Debris Stevenson, Royal Court Theatre

The Royal Court's artistic director Vicky Featherstone is vital voice in the call for equality in the arts. And her programming reflects this. One of the new season shows we're especially excited about is Debris Stevenson, a pioneering new work from young grime artist Deborah 'Debris' Stevenson.

WHEN

21 Sep 2018 – 06 Oct 2018, Monday - Saturday 19:30, Thursday & Saturday matinees 14:30

WHERE

Royal Court Theatre
Sloane Square, London, SW1W 8AS

Rosalie Craig, Bobbi: Company, London 2018. Photo by Dan Kennedy

Company, Gielgud Theatre

What do you do when a classic, multi-award-winning play is dominated by a male character? Gender swap! Accomplished director Marianne Elliott re-works Stephen Sondheim's beloved musical with Rosalie Craig playing a female Bobbi.

WHEN

26 Sep 2018 – 22 Dec 2018, Monday - Saturday 7.30pm, Thursday and Saturday 2.30pm

WHERE

Gielgud Theatre
35 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 6AR

Bring It On the musical, Southwark Playhouse

They're sexy, they're cute, they're popular to boot. They are cheerleaders - and they may not seem like the bastion of feminism, but this peppy story of rival teams competing at state championships is especially eloquent on the struggles and pressure of being a teenage girl.

WHEN

02 Aug 2018 – 01 Sep 2018, 7:30 PM – 9:50 PM

WHERE

Southwark Playhouse
77-85 Newington Causeway, London, SE1 6BD