Review: Spitfire Girls
The Air Transport Auxiliary or ATA played a vital part in World War II but not much is known by many people about them. Formed at the outbreak of the War they were not a part of the military but a civilian organisation that contributed a major part to the war effort.
Tilted Wig Productions’ Spitfire Girls currently at The New Wolsey in Ipswich, and then on tour, attempts and succeeds to highlight the significant part these men and women played.
The production’s story while a fictious account, is based very much on the true story and centres around two sisters who signed up to play their part.
Writer Katherine Senior is one of two actresses playing the part of Bett (the other actor sharing the role is Rosalind Steele), Bett’s sister Dotty is played by Laura Matthews.
The story starts on New Year’s Eve 1959 as Bett, now a landlady of a pub prepares for the New Year celebrations, her sister Dotty arrives and gradually the story of their wartime exploits unfolds through a series of flashbacks.
Initially women were not easily welcomed into the previously man’s world of flying planes but they soon proved their worth. At the time there was a gender pay gap with men earning more than women even when carrying out the same job, the ATA was revolutionary in being one of the first organisations to bring in equal pay!
Spitfire Girls not only tells the story of the two sisters roles’ in the ATA but also the love between the sisters, the love and at time tension between the two is typical of many siblings. Well written in that in a very short space of time you feel you care about both girls. There’s humour and light-hearted moments during the play which makes the poignant moments even harder hitting, truly one of those plays that will make you smile and then bring you to tears.
This is one of those plays that not only entertains but educates too, thoroughly recommend.
If you want to know more, make sure you pick up a copy of the programme which is filled with the true stories of the organisation and full of original wartime photos showing the real women and advertisements of the time.
At the New Wolsey until 5th April then touring the UK until 21st June.
Book New Wolsey https://www.wolseytheatre.co.uk/events/spitfire-girls/
Review Mark Keable, Ipswich24 Magazine