Review: CAUTIONARY TALES FOR DAUGHTERS, Jermyn Street Theatre

Once again, the tiny Jermyn Street Theatre is home to a scarily relevant production. In a political climate inhabited by immeasurable dangers for women (but then again, when has it not been like that?), Cautionary Tales for Daughters is mandatory viewing for everyone.

A three-year journey and hundreds of contributions from the most different people brought Tanya Holt - the writer and performer of the show - to write a tongue-in-cheek depiction of the advice she wants to give her daughter to prepare her for life. She brings it to the stage accompanied by A Girl Called Fred (Birgitta Kenyon) or Jenny Gould - depending on the performance - at the piano.

With funny yet sharp and thought-provoking songs, Holt carries us through a journey of self-acceptance and self-discovery, built on the fight for gender equality, eating disorders, middle age, and victim blaming. Each subject exudes feminism and a vast awareness of the weight of women's lives.

From the story of a little girl who desperately wants to be a cowboy but has her dream denied by friends and family simply for being a girl, but who then finds her place in the world with other cowgirls, to the rather morbid but effective retelling of Cherry's story, who unsuccessfully battled a lifelong eating disorder - because not every story as a happy ending - each song is introduced with poignant anecdotes relating to her life and the struggles that come with being a woman.

Holt's feminist views are blunt, colourful, classy and unafraid, she doesn't beat around the bush nor use euphemisms to tackle her subjects. She is fearless when she recounts the facts of her first job interview in London and how her potential employer felt so entitled to her body and her sexuality; she's supportive and enthusiastic when she suggests young women everywhere should "never grow a wishbone where your backbone ought to be".

In the very unstable atmosphere we are currently in, Tanya Holt is not afraid to speak up. Her piece is lighthearted and fun, but capable of bringing the audience to the edge of their seats because of the gravity and vital resonance of the subject matter.

Cautionary Tales for Daughters runs at the Jermyn Street Theatre until 11 February, and can be seen on tour across the UK until the summer.

To post a comment, you must register and login.