Calling all StageSiders, welcome back to another review here at StageSideUK. This time around we are talking about the emotional and impactful performance of Spitfire Girls which played at the Hippodrome last night, and runs until 31st May.
Disclaimer: We were gifted two tickets in exchange for an honest review.
Last night, the Darlington Hippodrome stage transformed into the Spitfire Pub. The Spitfire Girls came to town to share a touching and timely tribute to the trailblazing women who took to the skies during World War II as part of the ATA. Presented by Tilted Wig, this play is a beautiful, well crafted story of bravery, memory, and female camaraderie, told with warmth and wit.
Set on New Year’s Eve, 1959, in a local country pub named The Spitfire, the play centres on a chance reunion between two former wartime pilots and, we find out, sisters. The conversation drifts into their shared past, a trip down memory lane, where dreams of flight were both an escape and an act of defiance. Their shared story of freedom, independence, identity, romance, loss and grief unpacks before the audience.
The audience is drawn into the nostalgia of post-war Britain while also being reminded of the systemic obstacles women had to overcome simply to be taken seriously in the skies. The show features radio clippings that explain the bias towards male pilots. It’s a story rooted in emotional honesty, and told with a compelling mix of tenderness, wit and grit.
At the heart of the production are three standout performances. Laura Matthews as Dotty brings a brilliant blend of sharp humour and utterly gut wrenching moments. Matthews is a real theatrical star! The ability to cry on command, have the audience laughing and then back down to emotional again within a couple of scenes is just remarkable! Her timing is impeccable, and her delivery feels so authentic and effortless. Katherine Senior delivers an impressive performance, portraying a woman stuck among the ghosts of her past and dealing with the burden of legacy. Kirsty Cox adds some real laugh out loud moments, and is the driving force of some of the most upsetting too. A really important cog in this well oiled machine!
Cast members Jack Hulland and Samuel Tracey also gave such confident, grounded performances, enhancing the emotional balance without ever overshadowing the central trio.
The ensemble work really well in the pysical theatre / movement scenes, where each member gives their all to truly transport the audience to the skies.
Director Seán Aydon has staged the production elegantly, and has ensured there is a real rhythm throughout the show. There’s a lovely flow to the transitions between time periods, assisted by Sarah Beaton’s set and costume design. The pub setting is warm, detailed but feels real and lived-in. A huge shout out to Stephen Moynihan too, for those gorgeous movement scenes that really do take the show up a level.
What Spitfire Girls does best is champion the stories of women whose contributions have often been overshadowed in the grand narratives of war. It is made clear that the characters in the show are not symbols or metaphors, they are people, each with dreams, doubts, and memories that stretch far beyond the cockpit. It is a great evening of storytelling, shedding light on overlooked history with compassion and sensitivity.
Spitfire Girls is, quite simply, awesome. It is informed without feeling like a lecture masked as theatre, packed full of emotion and great storytelling techniques. The cast deliver amazing performances and there is a real heartfelt message.
You can still see the show, right up until 31st May, and with tickets starting at just £15 with the Hippodromes Lucky Hipp seats, you can get a full-view seat for £15.
Accesibility
The show utilised theatrical effects like lighting (often quite quick). There are moments where the cast are quite close to the edge of the stage and the music comes on quite suddenly however it isn’t too loud. The show touches on themes of Death, Loss, Grief, War, Drinking, Gender and Sex.
Value for Money
For £15 the show really is a steal. It is just a treat and a great evening of theatre for a bargain price!
I don’t think it will come as a surprise, this show steals a full 5 star review from StageSideUK. It is a gorgeous night of storytelling, with great techniques that transport the audience to the skies, a country pub and a air force base. The cast do a great job and the aesthetics are amazing!
Blue Skies and well done to the cast, crew and creatives!
Have your say!
Have you seen Spitfire Girls? What did you think? Let me know in the comments and let’s get a discussion going.
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