WHAT GIRLS ARE MADE OF
By Cora Bissett
Directed by Orla O’Loughlin
A Raw Material & Traverse Theatre Company co-production in association with Regular Music.
It’s 1992. In a small town in Fife, a girl is busting to get out into the world and see what's on offer. And an ad in the local paper declares: Band Seeks Singer.
Grunge has just gone global, scruffy indie kids are inheriting the earth, and a schoolgirl from Glenrothes is catapulted to a rock star lifestyle as the singer in a hot new indie band. Touring with Radiohead, partying with Blur, she was living the dream. Until she wasn’t.
Based on her meticulously detailed, pull-no-punches teenage diaries, this is the true story of Cora Bissett’s rollercoaster journey from the girl she was to the woman she wanted to be.
Performing with a live band, directed by Orla O’Loughlin (Meet Me At Dawn, Milk, Swallow), Cora celebrates life’s euphoric highs and epic shit-storms, asking what wisdom we should pass on to the next generation – and which glorious mistakes we should let them make.
PRODUCTION PICTURES (by Mihaela Bodlovic)
CREDITS:
Cora Bissett Writer
Orla O’Loughlin Director
Ana Inés Jabares-Pita Designer
Lizzie Powell Lighting Designer
Garry Boyle Sound Designer
MJ McCarthy Musical Arrangements
Eve Nicol Associate Director
Cast: Cora Bissett, Cathryn Archer, Simon Donaldson, Harry Ward.
PRESS:
‘The undisputable hit of the programme. Euphoric, empowered, hard-won high.’ ★★★★★ Telegraph
‘A life-changing litany of pure joy.’ ★★★★★ Herald
‘If you have a beating heart in your chest, there’s a high chance it will make you weep.’ ★★★★★ Stage
‘This is a punchy, exhilarating, candid and emotionally raw play which pulls the audience through the highs and lows of all that make you 'you' through the course of life’. ★★★★★ Skinny
‘Met with a well-deserved standing ovation.’ ★★★★★ Broadway World
‘Themes of memory, family and artistic expression give What Girls Are Made Of a degree of heart, passion and warmth – and there is a kick ass band to soundtrack the entire experience.’ ★★★★★ Wee Review
‘Anyone who loves rock music, a great, tear-jerking tale or perfectly pitched performance should race along to the Traverse before tickets disappear for good'.’ ★★★★★ British Theatre Guide
TOUR HISTORY
CITIZENS THEATRE @ TRAMWAY, GLASGOW 9-13 APRIL 2019
TRAVERSE THEATRE, EDINBURGH 16-20 APRIL 2019
MAC BELFAST 1-5 MAY 2019
ADAM SMITH THEATRE, KIRKCALDY 7-8 MAY 2019
DUNDEE REP 14-15 MAY 2019
MACROBERT, STIRLING 17-18 MAY 2019
CULTURA INGLESA, SAO PAULO, BRAZIL 24-26 May 2019
SPOLETO FESTIVAL, CHARLESTON, USA 4-8 June 2019
ASSEMBLY FESTIVAL, EDINBURGH, August 2019
Live Theatre, Newcastle 4-6 Sep 2019
Soho Theatre, London 9-28 Sep 2019
Melbourne International Arts Festival 3-13 Oct 2019
Glasgow Take Me Somewhere, Tron Theatre (Work In Progress) May 2018
Edinburgh Traverse Festival, August 2018
Edinburgh, Assembly Festival, August 2019
Edinburgh, Assembly Festival, August 2023