Blue Stockings - Altrincham Garrick

IT’S hard to believe it nowadays, but it wasn’t until 1948 that Cambridge University finally allowed female students to graduate.

And this in a country that likes to set itself up as a bastion of decency and fair play.

This compelling subject forms the basis of Jessica Swale’s brilliant piece of work - the best production to grace the Garrick stage in 2022.

I really liked the way Swale tells the compelling story of four women, academically as able as their male peers, battle against the dismissive attitudes of their male peers and academics who wield all the power at the famous university.

An evening of man bashing this most definitely is not but there were occasions when I felt ashamed of my gender.

Blue Stockings is set in 1896, more than a century before terms like ‘sexism’ had become part of the vernacular and I really like the way in which Pippa Lane, Bronte James, Madeleine Healey and Olivia Brindley bring their characters so vividly and engagingly to life.

You’ll find yourself quietly rooting for their characters, Tess, Celia, Carolyn and Maeve, a tribute to their considerable acting ability and the skills of Sue Mowat, who makes her debut at Altrincham Garrick as director of a production packed with performances of a professional standard.

It feels wrong to single out individual performances because there aren’t any weak links in this cast. But I did really enjoy Nick Sample as Banks and Sam Evans as the disarmingly decent Ralph Mayhew.

Add some gentle and captivating original music by Mark Goggins and you have a perfect evening’s theatre that’s simply far too good too miss.

As for me. I would quite willingly, watch this again. Highly recommended.

Until October 8. Star rating - *****

For tickets, call 0161 928 1677. For tickets, call 0161 928 1677 or visit www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk.

Photo - Martin Ogden