Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World At Milton Keynes Theatre Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Mel Randle
Last night I was invited to Milton Keynes Theatre to see Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World: The Musical. This one really excited me for three reasons – I LOVE musicals, I sell children’s books and I am a home educating mum. So this show encapsulates all three!
The musical is based on the book by Kate Pankhurst (a distant relative of Emmeline Pankhurst), one in a series of children’s books celebrating great women from all ages around the world who have done great things and made their mark on history. This show features twelve of those women including Amelia Earhart, Frida Khalo, Mary Seacole, Mary Anning and Rosa Parks.
The show centres on a school girl called Jade who feels lost and neglected as she navigates problems at home. She gets left behind in a museum exhibit about Great Women and then becomes immersed in it as she is ‘visited’ and guided by the women on display. They tell their stories, how they all overcame challenges to make their voices heard and went on to achieve great things that changed the world.
The show delivers a clear message to girls throughout – that everyone can achieve anything regardless of sex, race, background. But, always be yourself and stay true to yourself. There is no such thing as an ordinary woman!
The musical came from the same producers that brought us Six. Now I am a big Six fan so this sold it for me. The similarities were very evident – fun, high energy and an all female cast – including the musicians, whom like in Six were present onstage throughout. There was also one of their awesome luminescence numbers in which the costumes were just incredible!
The set remained the same throughout with the use of some props, but the main focus was on the narrative and the musical numbers. What I liked most about this production is the facts I came away with. This is the home educator coming out in me, but I just love learning when things are presented to me in such a fun engaging way, and that is why I think this show is great for children of all ages. I knew of Amelia Earhart but I didn’t know she had gone missing, I know the name of the first man to swim the channel but I didn’t know the first woman and I know the story of the Suffragettes but I didn’t know just how long it took them to make changes.
I would encourage people to take their children of all ages, boys and girls, to see this for many reasons. At just 85 minutes long (no interval) it is a perfect introduction to musical theatre. The clear messaging that you can achieve anything you put your mind to is relevant to all children even though the show is focused on women. It reinforces the belief that you are unique and you are YOU so embrace that and don’t worry what others think. This is a good lesson to all whatever your age. It is also a great way to encourage a love of history which is relevant to us all. It is important that children know the challenges and adversities that were faced to appreciate some of the freedoms that we have today, such as rights for black people and women’s right to vote. Last but not least, it was just a great night out!!
Rating: 5/5
You can see Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World: The Musical at Milton Keynes Theatre until Saturday 27th January.
Age guidance: Most suitable for everyone aged 7+
Tickets available from ATG Website from £13
Photo Credit: Pamela Raith