Offside
The Riverfront, Newport
Tue 12 June
‘A glorious tale of struggle and sweat’ perhaps isn’t the usual selling point for most dramas, but Sabrina Mahfouz and Hollie McNish’s bold production of Offside isn’t like most productions. A tale of football and feminism, this one-night stop at Newport’s Riverfront Theatre isn’t one to miss.
Acclaimed by critics during its Edinburgh Fringe run, the production portrays the lives of four women across three centuries – beginning in 1892, touching down in 1921 in the midst of the suffrage movement before ending in the present-day 2018. Despite its connections to the past, the play’s theme and message is by no means history, and as each of the four women in the story face different obstacles and live different lives, they come to realise just how much the beautiful game has the ability to change their stories and the world around them.
Praised by the likes of actress Emma Thompson and broadcaster Clare Balding, the show will be followed by a question-and-answer session chaired by panel specialists featuring Sarah Powell, Chief Executive of Sports Wales. Welcoming questions about the performance, sport and women in sport, the session is the perfect way to round off this acclaimed production. With a cast including Jessica Dennis, Marième Diouf and Fizz Waller, the play may be one of The Riverfront’s highlights this month. CHLOE EDWARDS
Admission: £11-13. Info: 01633 656679 / www.futurestheatre.co.uk
photo by NorthedgePhotography