The Tilted Wig Theatre Company production of ‘Spitfire Girls’ written by and starring Katherine Senior, has landed at the main house at the Birmingham REP this week as part of their UK tour.

The story concerns the little-known exploits of the female pilots of the Air Transport Auxiliary during the second world war, when they bravely flew all sorts and sizes of military aircraft across the country in readiness for the male pilots to take to the war skies.

The play is set on New Years Eve in 1960 from where it flashes back to the war years and follows two sisters Bett (Katherine Senior alternating with Rosalind Steele) and Dotty (Laura Matthews) as they join the ATA against their domineering father’s wishes. Senior and Matthews do a good job of conveying both the heroism and the comradery of the sisters against an often misogynistic, background.

They are supported by Samuel Tracy, Jack Hulland and Kirsty Cox in a variety of roles.

Directed by Sean Aydon and designed by Sarah Beaton, the action all takes place on a small, raised stage featuring the iconic Spitfire bullseye motif as the flooring.

Whilst there were moments of genuine tension and emotion, I felt that this production was lost in the cavernous main house at the REP and would have worked much better in the studio.

Sadly, it loses the required storytelling intimacy because the actors had to resort to shouting to be heard. This had the effect of making the dialogue clunky and disengaging. Radio microphones may well have helped.

Nevertheless, ‘Spitfire Girls’ is a moving piece of writing which has all the hallmarks of making a terrific TV series in the future.

The Spitfire Girls runs at the Birmingham REP until Saturday, June 21. Click here for times, tickets and more information.

***

Review by Euan Rose

Euan Rose Reviews