The Woman Who Tamed Lightning at Department in Ryde takes you back to an Isle of Wight summer in 1912. Fourteen-year-old Irène Curie arrives with her mother, Marie Curie, and Marie’s friend Hertha Ayrton. StoneCrabs Theatre uses that visit to open up the story of a woman whose work and determination challenged the expectations placed on her. It is a theatre evening with a connection to the Island under your feet.
Cody Pevreall wrote the play, Franko Figueiredo directs and Meg Hodgson performs the one-person production. Hodgson’s credits include ITV, Glastonbury Festival and Netflix. Through StoneCrabs’ visual approach, Irène’s growing awareness of Ayrton’s life gives the story its point of view. The result brings history into a person’s experience: a young visitor getting to know an extraordinary adult, and an audience seeing the barriers that adult had to work around.
This suits a friend who enjoys a story to talk about afterwards, or anyone with an interest in women’s history and the Island’s less familiar connections. General admission costs £12, with group discounts available through StoneCrabs. The performance starts at 8pm; check the running time with the organiser if you are arranging a lift home. Make some space for arts and performance on Ryde’s Cross Street, and spend an evening with a historical story that began with a visit to this coastline.
Organised by StoneCrabs Theatre