Good For A Girl-Something To Boots Your Spirits

In collaboration with the feminist arts organisation Fractured Glass, Birmingham Rep has announced the cast for “Good for a Girl,” a new drama that highlights and celebrates the real-life experiences of women in football. This innovative production, inspired by true stories from the female footballing world, will debut at The Rep from Wednesday 19 February to Saturday 22 February. Following its premiere, it will tour across the Midlands, visiting Malvern Theatre, Derby Theatre, Warwick Arts Centre and concluding at Attenborough Arts Centre.

The cast includes Saskia Davis making her professional stage debut as Gabi; April Nerissa Hudson as Naomi; Molly Walker as Liv; former England Youth player turned actor Elizabeth Hope playing Kim; and Gina Jamieson as Courtney. Both Elizabeth Hope and Gina Jamieson are returning to their roles after participating in research and development performances in 2022.

Becky Deeks serves as both writer and associate director of this production. She is currently Head of Young Rep at Birmingham Rep’s youth theatre company for ages 3-26. Director Lucy Wild (founder of Fractured Glass) collaborates with set designer Laura O’Connell (Head of Scenic Art at Birmingham Rep), costume designer Ocean Farini (known for “Rings of Power”), lighting designer Jessie Addinall (“The Borrowers”), sound designer Clive Meldrum (“Bright Places”), producer Hope Ward-Brown, and production manager Elliot Mitchell.

Becky Deeks comments: “’Good for a Girl’ is deeply personal to me, drawing on my own experiences as a female footballer alongside insights from remarkable individuals involved in our research process. While women’s football has progressed significantly since I began writing this play in 2019, the inequalities depicted remind us there is still much work to be done. I hope this production not only honours the incredible strength of female athletes but also inspires change both on and off the pitch.”

In addition to its tour performances, “Good For a Girl” offers creative workshops aimed at youth theatres, grassroots sports clubs, and community groups through partnerships with venues. These workshops cover themes such as devising theatre techniques related to young carers’ experiences, gender inequality issues within sports contexts like mental health awareness among players themselves—all celebrating women’s contributions within sporting environments while fostering friendships developed through shared athletic pursuits together! Funded by Arts Council England,” Good For A Girl” will premiere in The Door—Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s most intimate performance space—before embarking upon its regional journey throughout Midland locations mentioned earlier above!

Birmingham-rep.co.uk

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