Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World At The Lowry Review

Reviewed by Kathryn Harrison

Last night I had the absolute pleasure of taking my nine year old daughter, **** (editor’s note – name removed), to watch Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World at The Lowry Theatre in Salford. This new, original musical is based on the picture book of the same name by Kate Pankhurst.

The show begins by introducing us to Jade, an 11 year old girl who has gotten lost in a museum, on a school trip. Jade finds herself in a closed part of the museum, the gallery of greatness. Whilst there, lamenting the fact that she’s been left behind, Jade finds she’s not alone as Amelia Earhart, Gertrude Ederle and Sacagawea soon appear. These inspiring ladies offer Jade guidance and advice and set her on a journey meeting many of history’s most interesting women. The show features twelve fantastically great women from history, some you will know and some who’s stories may be less familiar.

The main cast on stage consists of Kudzai Mangombe playing Jade and four very talented women, Jade Kennedy, Renée Lamb, Christina Modestou and Kirstie Skivington covering fifteen other roles! With costume changes and excellent acting these four ladies really bring the historical figures to life. The music within this show is also brilliant! The actors, accompanied by an amazing, all female, live band performed original songs created specifically for this show by Miranda Cooper. I loved that the band was visible on stage throughout the show, with the musicians really feeling like a part of the performance. It was fascinating to watch them play. I thought the music in the show was brilliant. It was upbeat, joyful and fun whilst also telling the women’s stories. A World Of Colour was my particular favourite song whilst Fantastically Great was inspiring and uplifting. All the songs have been stuck in my head since we left the theatre. We absolutely need a cast recording of this soundtrack.

As the mother of two girls I’m aware of how important strong, female role models are in their lives. In a world that can often be too focused on social media and “influencers” it feels more important than ever to show our girls all the amazing things women have done and can do. It was wonderful to see my **** (editor’s note – name removed) totally engrossed in this show and asking lots of questions about the historical figures whilst we were driving home. The theatre was full of children and parents and it was very moving to see these young minds being inspired and engaged by the stories being told as well as by the amazing cast and band telling them. Even I teared up and felt emotional during the performance of Deeds Not Words, an interesting song that involved Emmeline Pankhurst rapping about women’s suffrage!

The show really got across the idea that everyone makes a change in this world and we can all be fantastically great! I would absolutely recommend this show to anyone and everyone but if you have a tween or teen girl in your life I would say it’s essential viewing. I wish I could go back to watch it every night!

Rating: 5/5

Tickets cost from £20 with a transaction fee of £3
Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World is at The Lowry Theatre, Salford from Tuesday 5th – Saturday 9th April. For more information or to book tickets visit www.thelowry.com or call the box office on 0343 208 6000

The Lowry, Pier 8, The Quays, Salford, M50 3AZ