Review: Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World UK Tour at the Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield
What do you get when you cross feminism with musical theatre? Me zooming off to buy tickets at approximately the speed of light, of course.
Enter Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World, a new musical based on a picture book of the same name by Kate Pankhurst (yes, a descendent of that Pankhurst family!) It was adapted for the stage by Chris Bush and features lyrics by Miranda Cooper and Jennifer Decilveo and music by Chris Bush and Miranda Cooper. The director is Amy Hodge.
With a title like that and this powerhouse group of women behind it, how could I resist? So off we went to Sheffield to see it.
The Fantastically Great Women stage pre-show. Photo: mine.
What’s It About?
(Fantastically Great Women has a fairly loose plot, but this section contains spoilers.)
11-year-old Jade is on a school trip with her class to the local museum. But she gets separated from the group and wanders into the not-yet-open Gallery of Greatness. Jade steps through a picture and embarks on a journey of self-discovery, guided by a few of history’s greatest women.
Jade is having a difficult time as her parents are in the process of getting divorced. She often feels invisible, ignored, and as though she doesn’t have a voice in decisions that affect her. She learns something important from all of the women she meets, grows in confidence, and starts to believe that she, too, can grow up to be a Fantastically Great Woman.
Any Content Notes?
Obviously sexism and the difficulties women have faced throughout history are major themes, but they’re handled with a light touch.
Right at the end of the final number (before the megamix and bows), a cannon fires confetti into the first few rows of the audience. This is quite loud and might make you jump or be distressing for people who don’t like sudden bangs.
The age guidance for this show is 7+ and it does not contain any significant bad language or sexual references. There were lots of children in the audience and they all seemed to be having a great time. The use of a young protagonist makes the show more relatable for children, too, who may recognise many of their own struggles and concerns in Jade.
Fantastically Great Women UK Tour: My Review
I absolutely adore this show.
I have a lot more to say, but I wanted to start with that.
It’s an accessible, fun introduction to women’s history for all ages that deals with important issues with sensitivity and humour. It’s a history lesson with a point, but all wrapped up in 80 of the most entertaining minutes I’ve spent in a theatre in a long time.
The best new musicals, in my opinion, build on the shows that came before them while also managing to be innovative and original. Fantastically Great Women is such a show, drawing on the success of previous historical musicals such as Hamilton and Six, while also offering something entirely its own.
The Six influence, in particular, is evident in this ultra contemporary, bonkers, colourful take on history. The “Mary, Mary and Marie” scene, complete with florescent costumes, has distinct “Haus of Holbein” vibes. I wasn’t at all surprised to learn from the programme that several of the cast and crew members list Six amongst their credits.
Jade Kennedy as Frida Kahlo. Photo: Fantastically Great Women official site.
The set, like the costumes, is bright, fun, irreverent, and fluid, with various pieces being incorporated into the songs and routines. Having the (all female, naturally) band on stage above the actors was another nice touch that added to the overall “pop concert” feel.
Jade is played by Kudzai Mangombe, a 2021 graduate from LIPA with a fantastic voice. Though she’s likely 21 or 22 in reality, with her school uniform and pitch-perfect childlike mannerisms, she transformed into 11-year-old Jade in front of our eyes. The other four performers multi-role throughout, switching fluidly between characters with the help of costumes and props. Two particularly standout performances were from Renée Lamb (Amelia Earhart/Rosa Parks/Mary Seacole/Miss Ashley) and Jade Kennedy (Sacagawea/Frida Kahlo/Marie Curie/Miss Morris.)
At the production we attended, two of the swings were on: Elisa Zavou covering Emmeline Pankhurst, Agent Fifi, and Miss Johnson, and Clarice Julianda covering Gertrude Ederle, Jane Austen, Mary Anning, and Miss Richards. Neither of them missed a single beat and I remain utterly in awe of the miracles that swings pull off on stage every night. In a rather lovely casting twist, the role of Anne Frank is regularly recast to celebrate young local talent. Bea Glancy brought tears to my eyes with her portrayal of Anne’s quiet strength. Watching a wonderful scene where Rosa Parks sings words of comfort and wisdom to Jade and Anne, you can’t help but think about the woman that girl could have become if she hadn’t been killed.
Renée Lamb as Amelia Earhart. Photo: Fantastically Great Women official site.
Do I have any criticisms of the show? A couple, but they’re small.
Fantastically Great Women is delightfully intersectional, highlighting women of different races, cultures, and social classes as well as disabled women. However, I would have liked a little more (or clearer) queer representation. Frida Kahlo, whose story is told in the show, was bisexual. Though her song “A World of Colour” and the fabulous rainbow wings that formed part of her costume can certainly be interpreted as a nod to her queerness, this is pretty subtextual and I would have loved it to be discussed more directly.
My musician partner also pointed out that there were a few issues with the sound balance in places, particularly towards the beginning, where the band started to drown out the vocals. This was largely fixed by about half way through.
Overall, a genuinely brilliant, joyful, uplifting, unexpectedly hilarious, and inspiring production with a fantastic message.
I really, really hope Fantastically Great Women gets an extended West End run after this tour. It deserves to be seen by so many more people.
Where to Get Tickets
Fantastically Great Women is at Sheffield until Saturday 4 June and then continues its UK tour until 30 July with dates in Poole, London, and Canterbury. See all the dates and buy tickets here.