Simon Ward reviews Gwenda’s Garage:The Musical at the Southwark Playhouse Borough

Following a successful run at the Tanya Moiseiwitsch Playhouse in Sheffield, this is the London premiere of a new British musical. Based on the true story of three female mechanics who, frustrated by their inability to find work in their male-dominated field, decided to set up on their own. Named in honour of pioneering female racing driver Gwenda Stewart, the real Gwenda’s Garage was a great success, especially among women drivers who were used to being patronised and scammed when trying to get their cars fixed. And it became a hub for feminist and lesbian activism of all kinds, as the Thatcher regime attempted to clamp down on or even eradicate same sex relationships.

Brought to life by producers Out of the Archive in association with Sheffield Theatres, who already have Standing at the Sky’s Edge and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie to their names, this is a supremely confident, brilliantly executed show, that grabs you from the first beat and never lets go. It feels like everyone involved in this production believes that it’s got the makings of a massive hit in the West End – and they are absolutely right.

 Written by Nicky Hallett, who also collaborated on the lyrics with composer Val Regan, and directed by Jelena Budimir, the play showcases the humour, grit and determination its protagonists bring to what was a pretty bleak time in England, and especially in the North. Carol (Eva Scott) is the founder of the garage and the Agony Aunt of the group – she manages to game the meagre system of grants and traineeships on offer to scrape together enough seed-money to get them going. Her assistants are on-again, off-again couple Terry (Sia Kiwa) and Bev (Nancy Brabin-Platt), aided by apprentice Dipstick (Lucy Mackay). Lesbian-curious straight ally and the audience access point into the drama is Feona-with-an-‘e’ (Georgina Coram, also doubling as Dance Captain), who is always turning up to the garage in spite of not having anything wrong with her car at all. Their lives are not easy, of course, and the government seems either useless or overtly hostile, so they have no choice but to make it on their own.

It’s a sign that one has reached a certain age when events which one remembers quite well – the miner’s strike, Thatcher’s Britain, section 28 – are being re-enacted as history by actors who weren’t even born when they took place. Nevertheless the performances brought the grim times compellingly to life, and the musical numbers transcend their setting – the tunes are catchy, the lyrics are punchy and the pacing is perfect. We’ve had Northern stories before, but this one unashamedly foregrounds the part that lesbians played in fighting for their rights against all the odds, taking men on at their own game and winning. It’s a pure joy to be part of this glorious journey.

Gwenda’s Garage:The Musical is running at the Southwark Playhouse Borough until Saturday 29th November