It’s an incredibly inspiring, emotive and largely unknown story – that of the valiant British women who flew planes in WW2, but turning it into a play that not only celebrates them but brings their lives vibrantly to life on stage is no mean feat.
And yet at the hands of Katherine Senior, the Spitfire Girls comes gloriously, rivetingly and humbly alive, enhanced by these women who made history – their fears, hopes, dreams and, more importantly, their everyday existence explored on both a domestic and war-time front.
Because it is this, so clearly highlighted in Katherine Senior‘s script, which ensures that we invest immediately, as we meet two of the pilots reuniting on New Year’s Eve in The Spitfire pub in 1960 for the first time since they joined up.
There are unresolved issues, the rather dour, fierce landlady Bett (played by Rosalind Steele) and her more lively sister Dotty (Laura Matthews) who soon begin reminiscing abut their time in the ATA (Air Transport Auxiliary) delivering planes to the front line.
Transported straight back to 1940, their idyllic life on the family farm, shattered by war, their destinies are soon changed by the exciting chance to join the ATA, lean to fly planes, rewrite the rules and make history, Bett and Dotty both jumping at the chance.
Despite their father’s (Jack Hulland) tremendous resistance to the idea they soon find themselves in The Hamble on the South coast where the hard work begins.
And hard work it is, the ATA men and women flying 309,000 aircraft of 147 types in WW2, day in, day out, their planes without navigation equipment, meaning they had to fly under the clouds and follow landmarks to reach their destinations.
And yet despite the danger it was an enlightening, liberating and high octane adventure – off duty hours spent carousing, bonding and going to the pub. “I hate to admit it but I’ve loved the war and I’ll miss it,” Dotty concedes.
But of course with war comes tragedy, and judging by their 1960 personas, both Bett and Dotty carry scars, guilt and trauma. So what went wrong?
No spoiler alerts here, but suffice to say the drama comes thick and fast as the war pans out around them, colleagues falling fodder, as they fight to survive and win. How they deal with the aftermath is the question.
Enormously entertaining, poignant, funny and tearful, Spitfire Girls was a privilege to witness. No wonder Katherine Senior was short-listed for the Women In Theatre Lab playwriting award last year, because her prose flows like the gin and tonics Dotty and Bett enjoy.
The Tilted Wig cast deserves high praise as a result, all playing their part with spirit, Kirsty Cox swapping between the authoritarian ATA commander-in-chief, and jovial fellow Scottish pilot with ease, while Samuel Tracy as a West Indian RAF pilot in the thick of it, and Jimmy the ATA facilitator, swaps between accents seamlessly.
But perhaps Spitfire Girls‘ greatest gift is that it doesn’t shove history down your throat, but instead takes you on a journey of discovery and inclusiveness that carries you unfalteringly along in its wake. Story-telling at its best.
Spitfire Girls is at The Theatre Chipping Norton until Saturday. Book here https://www.chippingnortontheatre.com/events/spitfire-girls
