Tucked away inside a labyrinth-esque south London complex, the cast of Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World – the acclaimed adaptation of Kate Pankhurst’s book of the same name – are applying the final daubs of polish to the musical ahead of taking it back out on tour.
Beneath two jauntily wobbling aeroplane wings, the American aviationist Amelia Earhart (played by Leah Vassell) ponders her next destination, while champion swimmer Gertrude Ederle (Chlöe Hart) furiously front crawls through shimmering fabric waves. The number they’re belting out – Where Do You Wanna Go? – could easily be a doo-wop inspired girl band single, were it not for its unorthodox lyrics that delve into the stories of under-appreciated women from history.
