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1990

Beside Herself

Written by Sarah Daniels

Play Details

Context

Artistic Director 
Max Stafford-Clark

Dates Performed

Thursday 29th March 1990
Jerwood Theatre Downstairs

Play Details

Synopsis

London, the present, in a dreamlike supermarket 

Eve navigates a surreal world alongside biblical women like Delilah, Jezebel, and Mrs. Lot. The play opens with Eve encountering these figures in a strange, timeless setting, where they engage in witty and poignant conversations that challenge their historical representations and personal identities. Eve, feeling the weight of millennia of misrepresentation and guilt, leads the dialogue as they explore themes of vanity, betrayal, and societal expectations.

Throughout the narrative, Eve’s journey becomes a tutorial in reclaiming and redefining their stories. As Eve confronts the trivialisation and violent deaths they have endured, the play unfolds in a series of sharp, humorous, and deeply reflective exchanges. The characters’ interactions reveal their inner turmoil and resilience, painting a vivid picture of their struggle against patriarchal narratives and the search for personal redemption. The play’s non-linear structure and absurdist elements heighten the sense of timelessness and introspection, making Eve’s journey a powerful critique of historical and contemporary female experiences.

Director(s)

Jules Wright

Cast & Creative

Cast

Tenniel Evans

Cast

Dinah Stabb

Cast

Marion Bailey

Cast

Julia Hills

Cast

June Watson

Cast

Mark Tandy

Cast

NIck Dunning

Cast

Des AcLeer

Cast

Lizzy McInnery

Designer

Jenny Tiramini

Lighting

Jenny Cane

Costume

Jennifer Cook

Sound

Byran Bowen

Assistant Director

Adrianne Moore

Deputy Stage Manager

Kate Best

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