What Girls Are Made Of
Citizens Theatre presents a Raw Material and Traverse Theatre co-production in association with Regular Music
THIS PRODUCTION WILL TAKE PLACE AT TRAMWAY (25 ALBERT DRIVE, G41 2PE)
It’s 1992. In a small town in Fife, a girl is desperate to get out into the world. An ad in the local paper declares: Band Seeks Singer.
Grunge has gone global, indie kids are inheriting the earth, and a schoolgirl from Glenrothes is catapulted to a rock star lifestyle as the singer in a hot new indie band. Touring with Radiohead, partying with Blur, she was living the dream. Until she wasn’t.
Based on her meticulously detailed teenage diaries, this is the true story of Cora Bissett’s rollercoaster journey from the girl she was to the woman she wanted to be.
Fresh from an award-winning, sold-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe, performed with a live band, and directed by the Traverse Theatre’s former Artistic Director Orla O’Loughlin, Cora celebrates life’s euphoric highs and epic lows, asking what wisdom we should pass on to the next generation – and which glorious mistakes we should let them make.
Part of our Citizens Women season.
What Girls Are Made Of will be presented at Tramway whilst the Citizens Theatre building undergoes an exciting redevelopment. For details on how to get to Tramway click here.
Supported by Creative Scotland and City of Edinburgh Council
BLOGS
Audience reactions to What Girls Are Made Of
Get in the 90s spirit with our Spotify playlist
Check out our Pinterest Board and indulge in some 90s nostalgia
Traverse Theatre: 10 questions with designer Ana Inés Jaberes-Pita
Traverse Theatre: 10 questions with Director Orla O'Loughlin
Traverse Theatre: 10 questions with Susan Bear
Traverse Theatre: 10 questions with Simon Donaldson
Traverse Theatre: Eve Nicol's Assistant Director zine blog
-
DATES
Date Time Information 9 Apr 7.30pm 10 Apr 7.30pm 11 Apr 7.30pm 12 Apr 7.30pm 13 Apr 7.30pm
-
Cast & Creative Team
CAST
Susan Bear
Cora Bissett
Simon Donaldson
Harry Ward
CREATIVE TEAM
Director - Orla O'Loughlin
Designer - Ana Ines Jabares-Pita
Lighting Designer - Lizzie Powell
Musical Director - Michael John McCarthy
Written and performed by Cora Bissett
Reviews
The play becomes a moving rite of passage that’s about fathers, mothers and daughters, and about how a young woman makes her way in the world and learns to be herself.
- The Herald (2019)
Nostalgic, hilarious, tragic and an absolute punch to the gut
- Broadway World (2019)
There is a universal warmth to this production, which allows it to be cherished by grannies and granddaughters alike.
- The Fountain (2019)
The vibrant play produces delight and despair [and] a thrilling desire to sing along with the band
- Qmunicate (2019)
Euphoric, empowered, hard-won high.
- The Telegraph (2018)
If you have a beating heart in your chest, there's a high chance it will make you weep.
- The Stage (2018)
A life-changing litany of pure joy.
- The Herald (2018)
This is a punchy, exhilarating, candid and emotionally raw play which pulls the audience through the highs and lows of all that make you 'you' through the course of life.
- Skinny (2018)
Met with a well-deserved standing ovation.
- Broadway World (2018)
Themes of memory, family and artistic expression give What Girls Are Made Of a degree of heart, passion and warmth – and there is a kick ass band to soundtrack the entire experience.
- Wee Review (2018)
Anyone who loves rock music, a great, tear-jerking tale or perfectly pitched performance should race along to the Traverse before tickets disappear for good.
- British Theatre Guide (2018)
Masterpiece of entertainment
- The Mumble (2019)
Press
"inspirational tale of how she went from being a small town girl from Fife to signing to a major record label with her band, Darlingheart, is a joyous rites of passage"
Raw Material speak to Neil Cooper about bringing What Girls Are Made Of back to the stage