A Brief History of Women by Alan Ayckbourn, Marine Theatre – Lyme Regis, until 6th August 2025. 4☆☆☆☆. Review: Cormac Richards

Photo Credit: Gilroy Theatre

A Brief History of Women by Alan Ayckbourn, Marine Theatre – Lyme Regis, until 6th August 2025.

4☆☆☆☆. Review: Cormac Richards

“performed with gusto and commitment”

Alan Ayckbourn has written over 90 plays and doesn’t seem to be stopping. It is no wonder, therefore that occasionally you see one which has slid under the radar. ‘A Brief History of Women’, first performed in 2017 is just such a play. In fact many of his works from this millennium have not hit the dizzy heights of his golden period in the 1970s and 80s. The title doesn’t really tell you very much about the story which is rather more about the brief history of a man and his relationship with a house over sixty years and a number of women who he has been close to in that time.

Four episodes in the life of Anthony Spates and Kirkbridge Manor start in 1925 and move on 20 years with each section. Performed in the round, as all Ayckbourn plays begin when premiered at the Stephen Joseph Theatre Scarborough, the simple set is a series of wall-less rooms and a few pieces of furniture – nothing else is needed.

In 1925 the house is home to Lord and Lady Kirkbridge; he a misogynist pig and her the victim of his abuse, who finds a moment of passion with the young manservant Spates. Andrew Fettes gives full vent to his many choice lines; the shouting show down with Victoria Porter as his wife is wonderfully exciting. In 1945 the house has become a preparatory school where Spate is now a teacher and has started a relationship with a fellow teacher. Once again Andrew Fettes gives a glorious character in the Welsh headmaster, Dr Williams and Alex Ansdell patently enjoys his workout in the staff room! By 1965 the house has become an arts centre where a group are rehearsing a pantomime. By this stage Spates is the centre manager and, as the show writer/director has an affair with a member of the cast, his wife begins to show interest in Spates herself. Once again, Andrew Fettes offers up a bravura piece of acting, complete with a partial dame outfit and the chance to draw the audience into the play with a short piece of panto repartee. As the wronged wife Pamela Flanagan is excellent; statuesque and calm in her anger and frustration. Jessica Olim also shines in the small role as the stage manager – full of simmering attitude and Alex Ansdell is spot-on as the bolshie young actor who takes issue the pantomime script; it is a very funny segment and, in my experience, very possibly based on truth. The final segment of the play sees Spates as the retired manager of the, now, Kirkbridge Manor Hotel and the arrival of a new guest brings the story full circle. It is poignant, tender and rather satisfying. Throughout Neil James plays Anthony Spate, from nervy youth to elderly man and he does so simply without fuss or histrionics it is a carefully pitched performance and works perfectly. The whole cast perform in each of the episodes and each acquit themselves very well indeed, it is a strong ensemble piece of work.

With any episodic piece some sections work better than others and almost cross genres from drama to farce to romantic comedy; the first and third are the most successful. The second scene lurches slightly into the absurd and the sweet final scene is more of an epilogue in its brevity. However, it is a hallmark of Ayckbourn’s work that he creates unconventional structures and this works pretty well. For someone who generally writes well for women, the choice roles here are really those largely for the men, though the thread that joins the whole is female strength and resilience, though at times this isn’t particularly consistent.

All this said, the play is very engaging and director Vernon Thompson has ensured that the pace never flags and his movement of the cast around the central stage is smartly done. The transition between scenes in the ‘school’ episode is especially effective with the combination of lighting and sound effects. The technical side of the production is very busy and very well executed throughout.

As a play it is something of a curate’s egg, but as a production it is performed with gusto and commitment and directed with care and finesse.

Cast

Anthony Spates – Neil James

Lady Caroline Kirkbridge, Phoebe Long, Pat Wriggly, Caroline Seabourne – Victoria Porter

Fergus Ffluke, Desmond Kennedy, Rory Tudor, Jim Seabourne-Watson – Alex Ansdell

Mrs Ffluke, Eva Miller, Gillian Dunbar, Ruby Jensen – Pamela Flanagan

Lord Kirkbridge, Dr Wynford Williams, Dennis Dunbar, Gordon – Andrew Fettes

Lady Cynthia, Ursula Brock, Jenny Tyler, Tilly Seabourne-Watson – Jennifer Olim

Creatives

Writer – Alan Ayckbourn

Director – Vernon Thompson

Lighting and Sound Design – Steve Miller

Set Design – Robert Sherwood

Stage Management – Tom Neill & Chloe Townshend

Production Assistant – Gary Fish