Kirjahaku

'A woman. On the line in Gallery Two of all places. I never thought I'd see the day. This is progress, my dear.' It's 1874, and Elizabeth Thompson stuns the artistic establishment with her painting The Roll Call. Five years later, she falls two votes short of becoming the first woman elected to the Royal Academy. In between, she shoulders the hopes and dreams of female artists across the country, while fighting for her place at a table full of top hats, neckties and mutton chop beards. A thrilling collision of music hall, cabaret and drag king swagger, Modest tells the true story of a pioneering megastar of the Victorian art scene. Written by Ellen Brammar and with music by Rachel Barnes, it was first produced in 2023 by Middle Child in collaboration with Milk Presents at Hull Truck Theatre before touring.

Righteous indignation boils over into brutal violence, driven along by a riotous soundtrack, as two best friends take aim at a world that has left them behind. Danielle and Chloe have been best friends since they were four, except for when things went 'pooey' when they were eight. Together they have faced bullying, rejection and bereavement. In I Hate Alone the two friends remember the times they have been hurt by others and make a list of the people on whom they will take revenge. Their actions, at first funny and childish, become increasingly disturbing, each marked with a song (of which the music and lyrics are included in the book). Created by Middle Child Theatre as "gig theatre that brings people together for a good night out with big ideas", think Thelma and Louise turned up to 11: I Hate Alone is a gig with a story, about injustice, revenge and, above all, friendship.