20th Century Woman
the Compact Cabaret
Devised by
Fiona-Jane Weston and Tim Heath
the Compact Cabaret
Devised by
Fiona-Jane Weston and Tim Heath
Photograpy by SL Chai
The one woman show brings together the words and music of some of our greatest writers and composers, to create an inspiring 90 minute whistle-stop tour that illustrates the journey taken by women from the steely determination of the early suffrage movement to our own more confusing times, and not without a song and quite a few smiles along the way.
Tribute is paid to some of the century’s greatest writers including George Bernard Shaw and Mrs Emmeline Pankhurst, as well as modern playwrights and poets. The production comes to dramatic climax in our own modern, but just as demanding and challenging time. The show also features wonderful songs, both comic and soulful, ranging from Victorian melodrama to ‘60’s protest numbers.
“Having always been interested in women’s history, 20th Century Woman – the Compact Cabaret is the culmination of my thoughts and feelings about the past, and where women stand today in our complicated modern society. The show brings together a number of judiciously chosen monologues, poems and songs within a well crafted piece of historical entertainment.” (FJW)
Tribute is paid to some of the century’s greatest writers including George Bernard Shaw and Mrs Emmeline Pankhurst, as well as modern playwrights and poets. The production comes to dramatic climax in our own modern, but just as demanding and challenging time. The show also features wonderful songs, both comic and soulful, ranging from Victorian melodrama to ‘60’s protest numbers.
“Having always been interested in women’s history, 20th Century Woman – the Compact Cabaret is the culmination of my thoughts and feelings about the past, and where women stand today in our complicated modern society. The show brings together a number of judiciously chosen monologues, poems and songs within a well crafted piece of historical entertainment.” (FJW)
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“..an intelligent and different cabaret... both a thoroughly entertaining evening and an enlightening education in female achievement at the same time... multi-talented Miss Weston... managed to avoid didacticism by allowing the pieces chosen from a plethora of different writers and composers to speak for themselves...
Difficult dilemmas are not shied away from.. . Any danger of this subject-matter becoming over-earnest has been skilfully avoided. There is poignancy in the song of the woman who wants a baby but cannot have one, and risible satire in the ditty of a contemporary footballer's girlfriend who appears to be turning all the hard-won achievements of her forebears completely backwards. "
..the outnumbered males in the audience who had possibly attended under sufferance, were soon expressing their enjoyment through hearty guffaws in the funny bits. Evidence of the predominantly female audience's approval came with their rhythmic hand-clapping and whooping during the finale.
**** Remote Goat
The first performance of 20th Century Woman – The Compact Cabaret was huge fun. Lots of songs and readings and quite unexpected, but entirely logical developments. Good to know that the show will be seen by many more people. Best things: the Lancashire lass doing her war work and the Marlene Dietrich impersonation.
- Time Out Reader Comment
Difficult dilemmas are not shied away from.. . Any danger of this subject-matter becoming over-earnest has been skilfully avoided. There is poignancy in the song of the woman who wants a baby but cannot have one, and risible satire in the ditty of a contemporary footballer's girlfriend who appears to be turning all the hard-won achievements of her forebears completely backwards. "
..the outnumbered males in the audience who had possibly attended under sufferance, were soon expressing their enjoyment through hearty guffaws in the funny bits. Evidence of the predominantly female audience's approval came with their rhythmic hand-clapping and whooping during the finale.
**** Remote Goat
The first performance of 20th Century Woman – The Compact Cabaret was huge fun. Lots of songs and readings and quite unexpected, but entirely logical developments. Good to know that the show will be seen by many more people. Best things: the Lancashire lass doing her war work and the Marlene Dietrich impersonation.
- Time Out Reader Comment
For bookings and other enquiries, please email:
[email protected]
or contact:
BEYOND ETERNITY PROMOTIONS. Tel: 01242 587776│Email: i[email protected]
or contact:
BEYOND ETERNITY PROMOTIONS. Tel: 01242 587776│Email: i[email protected]