News

Do you, or someone you know, have a story or photo to share about playing football in an industrial women's worker's league? Or any connection to women's football? We’ve got exciting plans in the pipeline for 2023, and we’d love your help to start exploring them! We’re working with writer Amanda Whittington (Kiss Me Quickstep) and Director Caroline Leslie (The Kitchen Sink, So Here We Are) to create a new show about women’s football in Essex in the 1920’s. The show focuses on Sterling Athletic Ladies, AKA The Dagenham Invincibles, who worked for Sterling Telephone and Electrical Company. Sterling were one of the biggest clubs in their county and their great local rivals were Marconi Ladies from Chelmsford. During WW1, women had been drafted into factory assembly lines – and, as a way of keeping fit, were encouraged to play sport. This led to the foundation of women’s amateur football leagues, and with the professional men’s leagues postponed during the war, women’s football became increasingly popular, until it was banned by the FA and female players sidelined for almost a century. You’re invited to share your stories with writer Amanda at our drop in coffee afternoon on Wednesday 19 October, 2-4pm at the Theatre (tea and cake provided!). Alternatively, you can get in touch by either writing to us: Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, Billet Lane, RM11 1QT; drop us an email: learning@queens-theatre.co.uk or give us a call: 01708 462373.