Women In Power brings together some of the UK’s most influential female voices, including Wendy Cope, Jenny Eclair, Suhayla El-Bushra, Natalie Haynes, Shappi Khorsandi and Brona C Titley, who have written a raucous new musical comedy, based on a reimagining of the Greek Classic The Assemblywomen. Alicia McKenzie stars in the production and joins us to tell us more.
Women In Power is at NST 6th – 29th September 2018.
Women in Power is coming to NST what can you tell us about it?
Well, I’ve been telling my friends to come see it because it’s a good laugh first and foremost. We’ve had a lot of fun in rehearsals making it. It’s inspired by Aristophanes’ ‘The Assembly Women’ and is set in Ancient Greece – a time when women weren’t really allowed out of the house unaccompanied, were not a part of any important decision making and were basically slaves to men. A group of daring women decide to dress up as men and infiltrate the Assembly to hand over power to the women. It involves a whole load of ridiculous comedy, it’s all singing all dancing with a dollop of good old-fashioned toilet humour on top. All written by 7 fantastic comedic writers.
What difference do you think the collaborative approach taken by the female writers has made?
I guess the different women have different styles of writing. The comedy style varies but also the seriousness – how they get the point across. For example, in some of the scenes, the humour is more character led and the story is in between the lines whilst in others the message is at the fore in the writing, bold as brass. It’s interesting to play as an actor as you can be playing the same character in different scenes and show completely different sides to them.
Do you think you can identify the different writers within Women in Power?
Yes, definitely! I mean, they all have different personalities and different experiences so that shines through in the writing. Also, they have different backgrounds – classics, politics, comedy, theatre, tv – which affects and enhances the writing. It’s interesting to try and spot these little gems once you know. All very clever stuff.
Why did you want to be involved in this production?
I was excited about this from the get go. I’d read a small extract for the audition and immediately wanted to be involved – it was so funny but so true. I think it’s an important and very timely (some might say long past time) subject. The opportunity to play strong, bright and funny characters working alongside amazingly talented actresses and with a fantastic female majority creative team. I was like, wow! Sign me up! I did some very silly things in the audition and Blanche (the director) just encouraged me to go further. It was great.
How does Women in Power balance a serious subject with comedy?
Well, a fellow cast member said to me ‘comedy is a serious business.’ I think what’s particularly good about ‘Women in Power’ is that is has a strong political message but through comedy. The story and fun are all part of the experience. I think it challenges the audience to think about politics without straight up telling them what to think. It’s not a sermon, it’s not reverential, we want people to be entertained. More like an invitation to join in the discussion and come and have some fun.
What would you say to anyone thinking of coming to see Women in Power?
Come! Bring your girl pals, bring your guy pals. Grab a bottle of prosecco from the bar and take a comfy seat in the auditorium and enjoy the show. There’s lots of silliness, interesting observations, funny but endearing characters and some great music by Mr Tim Sutton so plenty to entertain you. Then come say hello to us in the bar afterwards and tell us what you think.
