'Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World' review – a fun, funky and fiercely entertaining musical history lesson

Read our review of Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World, now in performances at The Other Palace to 8 September.

Conveying history on stage in a coherent and entertaining way is a challenge. Converting it into a successful musical aimed at a younger audience is even harder. However, Chris Bush’s adaptation of Kate Pankhurst’s book, Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World, succeeds brilliantly on both counts.

Beginning during a school trip to a museum, Jade, a thoughtful and troubled 11-year-old, wanders into a closed-off wing. Here, great women of history appear to give her some life lessons, as she reveals her struggles to find herself.

Amelia Earhart zooms in from her solo flight, then Gertrude Ederle pops out of a box to tell us of her cross-Channel swim. Emmeline Pankhurst marches on stage to explain women’s suffrage, and many others follow.

Structurally it is fairly repetitive, with Jade meeting one fantastic woman after another. However, Bush’s adaptation deftly melds 12 stories into one cohesive, entertaining narrative, spanning over 225 years. It is not just a simplistic rant against the patriarchy; this is educational even for the most forthright feminist, and also sends the message that everyone can make a difference in the world.

Miranda Cooper (who wrote hits for Girls Aloud and the Sugababes) teams up with Bush for the lyrics and Jennifer Decilveo for the music to produce a very catchy soundtrack. “Mary, Mary and Marie” is a witty and energetic celebration of pioneering women and “Rosa’s Lullaby” is a reflective and emotional ballad.

The cast is pacily directed by Amy Hodge. An engaging and hugely likeable Georgia Grant-Anderson takes on the role of Jade. On stage throughout, she conveys the frustrated and complicated feelings of many children on the edge of growing up.

The rest of the company play multiple roles. Meg Hateley takes the reins as a forceful Emmeline Pankhurst, rocking the anthemic track “Deeds Not Words”. Elena Breschi is great fun as a passionate Frida Kahlo with the sweeping “A World of Colour”, although occasionally gets overwhelmed by the volume of the excellent three-piece band.

Charlotte Jaconelli is suitably prim as an operatic Jane Austen and down-to-earth as record-breaking swimmer Gertrude Ederle. Anelisa Lamola makes most impact as forthright, yet quietly sensitive, Rosa Parks who reminds Jade that not every story can end happily.

Joanna Scotcher’s set and costume design is bold and bright, with some thoughtful modern touches. Jane Austen’s blue bonnet is a visor, Emmeline Pankhurst appears in military combats in suffragette colours, and Frida Kahlo wears pink Converse trainers under her traditional dress.

Producer Kenny Wax is also one of the producers of SIX, and there’s a notable crossover with that show here: from the catchy, pop-inspired tunes of female empowerment, to the youthful energy, and the funky megamix at the end of the show, which likewise runs without an interval.

This is a production aimed at a younger audience, but it will also appeal to adults. It is informative and educational without being preachy in its powerful and uplifting messages. More importantly, it is fun, funky and fiercely entertaining.

Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World is at The Other Palace through 8 September. Book Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World tickets on London Theatre.

Photo credit: Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World (Photos by Ellie Kurttz)