A collection of wide-ranging and ambitious short plays reflecting the complexities of women and political power in the United Kingdom.

The four plays published here look back to the moments in history when women possessed - or achieved - power, and what they did with it.

The Milliner and the Weaver by Marie Jones, about the Suffragette movement in Ireland, as the question of Home Rule divides the nation.

The Lioness by Rebecca Lenkiewicz is about Queen Elizabeth I, the myth and the reality.

Handbagged by Moira Buffini, about the working relationship between Mrs Thatcher and the Queen.

Bloody Wimmin by Lucy Kirkwood, about the protests at Greenham Common, a political landmark in the fight for nuclear disarmament.

The plays were first performed at the Tricycle Theatre, London, as part of the Women, Power and Politics season in June 2010.

The other plays presented in the season are available in the companion volume, Women, Power and Politics: Now.

About the Author
Moira Buffini is a playwright and screenwriter. Her plays include Blavatsky's Tower (Machine Room), Gabriel (Soho Theatre), Silence (Birmingham Rep), Loveplay (Royal Shakespeare Company), Dinner (National Theatre and West End), Dying for It, adapted from The Suicide by Nikolai Erdman (Almeida Theatre), A Vampire Story (NT Connections), Marianne Dreams (Almeida), Welcome to Thebes (National Theatre), Handbagged (Tricycle Theatre and West End), wonder.land (National Theatre), NW Trilogy (Kiln Theatre) and Manor (National Theatre). Screenplays include Jane Eyre, Tamara Drewe, Byzantium and The Dig. Lucy Kirkwood is a British playwright and screenwriter whose plays include: The Human Body (Donmar Warehouse, London, 2024); Rapture (promoted as That Is Not Who I Am, Royal Court Theatre, London, 2022); The Welkin (National Theatre, London 2020); Mosquitoes (National Theatre, 2017); The Children (Royal Court Theatre, 2016); Chimerica (Almeida Theatre & West End, 2013; winner of the 2014 Olivier Award for Best New Play, the 2013 Evening Standard Best Play Award, the 2014 Critics' Circle Best New Play Award, and the Susan Smith Blackburn Award); NSFW (Royal Court, 2012); small hours (co-written with Ed Hime; Hampstead Theatre, 2011); Beauty and the Beast (with Katie Mitchell; National Theatre, 2010); Bloody Wimmin, as part of Women, Power and Politics (Tricycle Theatre, 2010); it felt empty when the heart went at first but it is alright now (Clean Break & Arcola Theatre, 2009; winner of the 2012 John Whiting Award); Hedda (Gate Theatre, London, 2008); and Tinderbox (Bush Theatre, 2008). She won the inaugural Berwin Lee UK Playwrights Award in 2013.

Reviews

'A terrific achievement and crucial, frightening viewing, for both sexes'

* Evening Standard *

'The demands of compressed dramaturgy... have liberated these writers into genuinely experimental formats. It's incredibly refreshing'

* Whatsonstage.com *



Book Information
ISBN 9781848421165
Format Paperback
Page Count 120
Imprint Nick Hern Books
Publisher Nick Hern Books
Weight(grams) 140g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 9mm