Ladies Down Under
Commissioned by Hull Truck Theatre (2007)
Published by Nick Hern Books
New Vic Theatre
March 2024
"Riveting and captivating ... beautifully interweaves themes of friendship, self-discovery and resilience."
After winning the jackpot at Royal Ascot, Pearl, Jan, Shelley and Linda set off for the adventure of a lifetime.
Yet when they land in Australia, each find they are on a very different journey. Shelley searches for glamour and Jan for love, Linda wishes they were back at the fish factory and Pearl deals with an Uluru-sized secret.
Following on from the New Vic’s hugely successful Ladies’ Day (2023), Ladies Down Under follows the adventures of four Hull women who navigate life, love and friendship. Hilarious, heart-warming and full of sunshine, it’s the perfect play to brighten up your winter!
Cast: 4f/2m, multi-roling
Producing/performing in Ladies Day, Ladies Down Under or Ladies Unleashed? Sign up to the trilogy’s Facebook group.
Script and licensing enquiries
Facts & Figures
The New Vic Theatre Ladies Day cast reunite for this 2024 production: Kate Wood (Pearl), Tanya-Loretta Dee (Jan), Annie Kirkman (Shelley) and Jo Patmore (Linda), with Gareth Cassidy and Richard Lund.
The first Ladies Down Under embarked on a 12-week UK tour, directed by Gareth Tudor Price, also with the original cast reprising their roles, with Damien Warren-Smith.
Ladies Down Under is a favourite of amateur theatre companies across the UK.
Reviews
Ladies Down Under
“Sending the ladies long haul seems to be about making a slender idea go a very long way … yet something unexpected happens on arrival as the pace becomes less frenetic, the humour less coarse and the characterisation deepens.”
“The writing is brilliantly funny, from the pop culture references and off-hand observations, to the frequent off-key renditions of Waltzing Matilda. However it also has a poignant side – none of the four main characters (and, to be fair, a hefty chunk of the support characters too) escape without some sort of dramatic issue.”
“Riveting and captivating ... Whittington's script beautifully interweaves themes of friendship, self-discovery and resilience, providing a narrative which resonates with audiences of all ages ... a must-see production that strikes the perfect balance between humour and heartfelt storytelling.”
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