Tudor Players’ The Invincibles – 11 June 2025, Library Theatre
Review by Claire Taranaski.
Tudor Players continue to surprise me with shows that just seem to get better and last night’s is one of their best yet, achieving for World War 1 women’s football what the film and TV drama “A League Of Their Own” achieving for World War 2 women’s baseball, bringing the reality of it’s history and those involved to the masses (in this case as many people who can fit into Sheffield’s Library Theatre).
The show cleverly combines the story of the Sterling Ladies in the final years of the great war with the passion in 2023 of injured footballer Maya. This is seamlessly achieved with a minimalist half football ground set, projections of images from throughout the history of women’s football (including of the original Sterling Ladies), some very quick costume changes from Lydia North, clips of a podcast “Grass In the Clouds” put together by Charlie Gascoyne-Thompson and Rhiannon Smith-Jones and war time musical classics.
I have already mentioned Lydia North but now I’m really going to sing her praises. In her first ever production with Tudor Players she was superb at balancing both roles as the new girl Nell at the wartime factory and the modern day injured footballer, capturing our hearts in both role and having great chemistry with her co-stars. The other true stand out of the show came from a Tudor Players regular Josh Cooper as Mr Chollerton (Cholly), the reluctant factory football coach. If this story had been made into a film the late Bob Hoskins would surely have been given this role but josh would have more than given him a run for his money with his portray, energy and facial expressions brilliantly bringing the character to life. My favourite scene of the show featuring just the two of them in different time periods simultaneously supporting their teams.
On the subject of favourite scenes I must now mention the director Joe Gascoyne-Thompson who is getting more and more confident in taking risks with his direction of Tudor Players productions and he keeps pulling them off brilliantly. With this show it was the bringing together of multiple strands of the story at the same time on the same stage, seamlessly moving between time periods and bringing the excitement of a football match to life with only one of two cast members on stage at a time, rather than the traditional 11 a side (and you never felt you were missing the other 20). I have been reviewing Tudor Players for nearly a decade and this does not feel like a show they would have tackled 10 years ago but are getting a reputation for now.
Other cast members who deserve a special mention include Siobhan Hible as both wartime and 21st century mum’s Sammy and Hannah, whose chemistry with, love and wanting the best for both of her on stage family and growing passion for the game. Like Siobhan, Tommy Jones is always one to watch and as the head of the wartime household James, he beautifully carried off the weight of war and having a son fighting abroad and need to keep life how it is at it’s most safe.
I cannot not mention the other members of the Sterling Ladies, Charlie Gascoyne-Thompson, Rhiannon Smith-Jones, Megan Roberts and another debut Tudor Players member Kirsty Krawczyk (like Lydia we look forward to seeing what you do next). The friendship and love of the game from all four of you shone through and if in a past life we were wartime factory girls we hope it would be beside you.
I have argued in the past for Tudor Players to do a musical and this show adds to my argument, especially the heart felt vocal arrangements in the final scene but I can also now add the company developing it’s own podcast to the list.
Whether you are a fan of football or women’s of 20th century history in general or just love great theatre this show full of respect, passion and emotion for the beautiful game is not one to be missed.
