The Roaring Girl

The Roaring Girl by Thomas Dekker and Thomas Middleton

Abridged by Lucy Bytheway

Sebastian and Mary are stuck. They're lovers, impeded by Sebastian's father Alexander, who forbids their engagement. A plan is hatched to deceive Alexander of his son's devotion to local legend and social reject Moll Cutpurse, in the hopes of proving Mary a preferable alternative.

Unbeknownst to them, Alexander hatches his own plan to incriminate Moll and rid his son of her. The whole while, all Moll wants is to be left alone!

Their conundrum is flanked by the quandaries of the busybody neighbourhood: a tobacconist and his wife's entanglement with a younger man. An alleged affair of a tailor. A respected father's despair over his gambling son - it's nothing short of bedlam!

Featuring live original music from an electric trio, this farcical comedy follows the lives of a mischief-making, pot-stirring community.

The play's heroine is based on real-life rogue Moll Cutpurse, a notorious figure amongst England's 17th century underworld, who fought, stole, drank, and battled traditional expectations of femininity.

This adaptation sees Moll dispute double standards against a backdrop of 1970s northern England, fuelled by a punk, non-conformist characterisation.

This spring at Crookes Social Club you're invited to stomp, shout, and whirl, to laugh and revel at The Roaring Girl.