The Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) is an unsung part of the history of World War 2. Formed because of the need to transport planes from base to base but without the pilots available to do the job, it recruited men who were unfit for combat and – unthought of previously – women to fulfill the role with the revolutionary idea of equal pay.
Spitfire Girls – which is now on tour – offers a slice of what life was like for these girls as they ventured into this brave new world and Katherine Senior shows that she has certainly done her research into the subject as she has written this homage to the pioneers of female aviation.
The play begins with the two sisters Bett (Senior/Katriona Brown) and Dotty (Hannah Morrison) reminiscing on New Year’s Eve some fifteen years after the war’s end and we are soon transported back to the time when the siblings – much to the disapproval of their Dad (Jack Hulland) – decided to apply.
It soon became apparent to their C.O. (Kirsty Cox) that Dotty was by far the better flier – even though she is prepared to take on unwarranted risks – and was also the luckier one in love as the two sisters vied for the eye of Tom (Paul Brown). Dotty won the contest for his hand in a doomed relationship.
Wartime often condemned relationships to an untimely end and a twist in the tale is revealed in the finale as another relationship fails to survive the big blue sky.
Senior uses the siblings’ tale – based on true stories – to recount the experiences of the women pilots and there is gentle humour along the way. Above all, Senior and Director Sean Aydon give the opportunity for the cast to show the meaning of love – partner to partner, colleague to colleague and the undeniable love of flying and meeting the blue sky.
The play comes alive when cast members are allowed to showcase dancing from the era and there is a delightful piece of performative movement as the feeling of flight is imagined so congratulations to Movement Director Stephen Moynihan. In fact, Aydon has brought in a talented creative team of Sarah Beaton (Designer), Peter Small (Lighting) and Eamonn O’Dwyer (Sound) to create the perfect atmosphere, costumes and sets with the RAF roundel prominent.
The action is a little slow-paced and, for me, would be improved with a little more sound from the era to link the sets and scenes and a little more movement but it is certainly a piece of theatre to be persevered with.
I get the impression that this is a play that can be developed further and I would love to see the next version. I am sure that Spitfire Mk III will provide an even better experience for the audience.
The play continues at Buxton Opera House until March 21st and has a running time of 2 hours 10 minutes including interval.
