Review of Ladies Football Club at the Crucible, Sheffield

The scene is set: wartime Sheffield turned to making munitions to support the First World War. Women were called upon to replace a workforce of men who had been called to arms. In dirty factories with heavy work, our women rose to the challenge and were pleased to finally have a place in the world, a purpose.

But it was tough; it took true grit and canteen camaraderie that formed friendships through adversity. The fast-paced banter and the potty mouths of northern factory lasses raised the mood from the backdrop of a grey stage setting and equally monotone overalls. Laugher erupted from the audience within the first few lines delivered by the excellent Cara Theobold (Violet), who took on a narrator’s role to unveil characters and set each scene.

An idea to pass time during their lunch breaks playing football grew into an accidental charity match, which they won - it was love at first kick. More matches were played, eventually they hit the national headlines and became a symbol of good spirits in a country at war. The Ladies Football Club was born.

The gameplay was cleverly choreographed with the assistance of scripted commentary. The grey stage finally came to life, lighting up ball-play and projecting manoeuvres onto the back of the set. The all-female cast was synchronised to perfection and worked the stage as a team to create the match tension and celebrations.

The tale, by Stefano Massini and adapted by Tim Firth, is not just about football. I am certainly not a football or sporting fan. It is about friendship, teamwork, female suppression, the working class. It blends a wartime tale with the social elements of its time. Poignant insights into how these working women were worrying about their husbands on the frontline or caring for them as they return injured, while going off to work and raising their families. Women doing a man’s job, working in a man’s world and not getting the parity in pay or stature. Women not being accepted as equals. Women inspiring other women to achieve and to own their place in the world that goes beyond being a wife and a mum. There are so many elements to this it has your emotions being passed in more directions than the ball on the pitch.

But true as a city whose legacy is in steel, the women portrayed in this play have forged a path for future female football stars.

A melancholic sadness of a history we cannot change comes through, while the plot still triumphantly celebrates Sheffield as the home of football not just for men, but for women too.

The moving finale shows hope of a legacy living on in young girls, who become players in teams such as the Lionesses.

If I were a betting woman, I would put money on the Ladies Football Club making it to the top of the league for best new show of the year.

To March 28.