Kings Theatre, Edinburgh – until Saturday 30th April 2022
Reviewed by Ellen Searle
5*****
Based on the picture book by Kate Pankhurst and with songs from acclaimed hit songwriter Mirander Cooper, Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World is a wonderfully original pop of colour, music and storytelling. At the centre of this lively musical is Jade (Kudzai Mangombe), an 11 year old who finds herself accidentally separated from her class on a school trip to a museum – alone in the Hall of Greatness, distraught at her parents impending divorce, she is literally and figuratively lost. But not for long. Twelve iconic women from history appear to inspire and counsel Jade, and as they do so, we the audience are entertained and educated in equal measure. Jade Kennedy, Renee Lamb, Christina Modestou and Kirstie Skivington play these characters with the expertise, attention to detail and sheer verve these giants of history deserve, performing Miranda Cooper’s catchy and wonderfully choreographed original songs with brio.
First to appear are a heroic trio of sportspeople and adventurers led by aviator Amelia Earhart. Jade is lost and needs direction, but also needs to have her voice heard. Cue Emmeline Pankhurst (yes, a distant relative of the original book’s author), to help her express herself. Frida Kahlo and Jane Austen represent the arts, their contrasting styles and backgrounds playing together perfectly. Then we have leaders in the fields of sciences, nursing and espionage showing that women really can and do excel in any field! And finally, we are brought into the more modern era with Rosa Parks and Ann Frank (Lana Turner), completing a highly diverse line up of inspirational women.
The real life stories are seamlessly interwound with the fictional plot, cleverly often using the actual words spoken or written by the heroines. The colourful staging and imaginative use of props makes the show visually appealing. While it is aimed primarily at younger people (and my own 12 year old daughter loved it) and is meant to educate and inspire, it is never preachy. The stories, like all good stories, draw us in and take us on a journey, and while full of comic moments and some great quips, it does not shy away from more difficult aspects of the women’s lives. This add real depth, showing that change is achieved not because of a single spontaneous moment of brilliance, but by perseverance over time, by overcoming personal challenges, and almost always as part of a wider collective movement for change. As this show eloquently expresses, all of us can and do make a difference in the world – and we can have a bit of fun along the way. This show matters because, as Kate Pankhurst herself says “the stories you hear when you are young are incredibly important, they can help you look at the world in a new light and feel a little braver – they help to form the jigsaw of you.”
Everyone involved in this wonderful production can rightly be proud of their part in telling these stories, and doing their own bit to change the world through this sassy, uplifting musical.