The Matchgirls – Wilton’s Music Hall

A scene from The Matchgirls at Wilton’s Music Hall. Picture: Ellie Kurtz

The Matchgirls was performed at Wilton’s Music Hall, London.

The Red Ladder Theatre Company, in collaboration with Dumbwise, produced a cohesive interpretation of Bill Owen and Tony Russell’s 1966 musical The Matchgirls which fulfilled the aims of both theatre companies in terms of creating socially engaged pieces of work.

The production was a community theatre piece which included trained actors who had recently graduated from drama school, actor/musicians and new performers who had not been in a theatre production before.

Despite the different levels of experience, the cast, as a collective, offered convincing performances as match workers who experienced poor working conditions, exploitation and the threat of the dreaded ‘phossy jaw’ (an occupational disease of those who worked with white phosphorus without proper safeguards).

The ensemble, which included Kirsty Cherrett, Sarah Milton, Niamh Canning, Helena Morais, Yvonne Wickham, Clara Powell, Rebecca-Louise Gray, Cecily Nash and Marit Schep, worked brilliantly, particularly in Act I.

The rendition of ‘Phosphorous’ was comical yet powerful, as the characters suspected the teenage Louie, played by Niamh Canning, to have contracted the disease.

A particular highlight was the performance of ‘Look Around’. The song could easily have been overly sentimental, due to its subject matter, but the cast avoided this due to the assured direction of John Ward. They stood frozen on the peeling and atmospheric Wilton’s Music Hall stage while being observed by Annie Beasant (Leah Elsey).

Clara Powell, in her portrayal of Winnie, demonstrated good comic timing and awareness in her role as Winnie. Yvonne Wickham, as Mrs Purkiss, delivered a versatile performance, and her warning to the Matchgirls during Act II was poignant.

Laura Kirman, as Kate, delivered a standout performance. She managed to reflect the conflicted nature of the character as she moved from defiance to vulnerability. Her performance of ‘Something About You’, alongside Adam Patrick Boakes who played Joe, was touching.

This collaboration between the Red Ladder Theatre Company and Dumbwise resulted in a well-executed production which championed the message of solidarity but most importantly, hope.

Rebecca Gordon