Gorgeously Grand: Extraordinary Women Champions Queer Love ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Based on Compton Mackenzie's 1928 novel, Extraordinary Women transports its audience to the bohemian paradise of 1919 Capri. This production, adapted by Sarah Travis (music) and Richard Stirling, is a refreshing and much-needed champion of early 20th-century lesbian culture.

The original novel famously presented recognisable caricatures of real-life lesbian figures, including the influential Radclyffe Hall. This musical adaptation beautifully carries that legacy forward, foregrounding a love story that feels both historically rooted and wonderfully contemporary in its emotional resonance. At its heart is the captivating, tumultuous romance between the yearning Aurora (Caroline Sheen) and the fiercely independent Rosalba (Amy Ellen Richardson). Aurora longs to pin Rosalba down, to share a life, while Rosalba, ever the free spirit, finds joy in keeping her romantic options open, particularly when new heiresses arrive on the island. Their dynamic is the engine of the plot, treated with a refreshing honesty and a liberal dose of humour. The mythical sirens observing from above, worried about the 'extraordinary women's' bohemian antics, add a charmingly meta-commentary on the period's societal concerns about such unconventional lives.

Sarah Travis's score, with its stylish 1920s and operatic inflections, is brought to life by two excellent on-stage musicians, perfectly capturing the era's sophisticated yet playful spirit. The story itself revels in farce, with characters' lives tangling in hilariously complex ways. The ensemble cast rises magnificently to the challenge, particularly Jack Butterworth, who masterfully tackles five distinct male roles, while others seamlessly inhabit three characters each.

For anyone seeking a thoroughly entertaining night out that’s both laugh-out-loud funny and genuinely significant in its representation, Extraordinary Women is an absolute must-see.