First time Director, Charlotte Holguin directs Amanda Whittington’s highly compelling and witty play, Ladies Day which tells the tale of four ordinary down-to-earth females, working in a fish factory in Hessle, near Hull. They live hum-drum lives with not much excitement and do the same thing day-in and day-out, each with their own lives outside of the factory.
The four work-mates, Jan (Lorna Pout), a single mother who has an only child she dotes on and is about to leave for University, Linda (Jasmine Oates) an only child intimidated by an overbearing mother, Pearl (Angela McComb) who is about to leave the factory but has a guilty secret and Shelley (Laura Powell) who wants the bright lights of stardom and to meet a millionaire; they think they know everything about each other, but secrets unfold and emotions ride high on a day out to Ascot.
Excellent writing from playwright, Whittington providing a look into life at the fish factory with the ladies hopes and dreams being uncovered; Pearl is leaving the factory to spend more time with her husband; the other three call it her retirement, she insists it isn’t, but she wants to mark her leaving with a day out and the four make some suggestions, but Pearl comes up with the idea of going to Ladies Day at Ascot which is being held in nearby York. Little do the others know but there is a reason for her suggesting it and she even offers to meet the expenses for the day when some of the others say they can’t afford it, she is determined to go for her own reasons.
Each lady has a tale to tell, some details coming as a surprise to the others, and they are all wishing that their hopes and dreams will come true if they get a big win at the races. There are some highly emotive sections, beautifully written and excellently performed, which highlight fear and loneliness underneath the bravado of excitement and hilarity.
The opening scene shows the ladies at work in their white overalls, hairnets and wellies filleting fish in the factory but it’s not long before the transformation takes place with them in their finery at the racecourse.
This is a laugh-a-minute production which relies heavily on the four main female characters who are superb in their roles as is Conner Jones who plays Jim, the TV broadcaster and Patrick the jockey with Tom Large playing four different supporting roles exceptionally well. Great comic timing from a talented cast who are to be applauded for their delivery and stupendous portrayals; the cast deliver perfect Yorkshire accents which they maintained throughout the piece.
After a pretty catastrophic day at the races, all ends well but no spoilers or story reveals here as it will spoil it for those planning on seeing the show.
The simple set portrayed the fish factory at the start and finish of the show, and a colourful backdrop helped the audience visualise the racecourse during the rest of the production with the cast also performing off stage in front of the audience and in the aisle. Lorna Pout as a drunken Jan, deserves an Oscar.
Commendations to Stage Manager Catherine Flower, the Light and Sound effects by Duncan Young and Scott Inglis, Costume and Set by Carol Golightly and Robert Bowes with the support of Tim Saint and Hayley Jeffrey for set painting.
The show starts at a leisurely pace and romps home at the finish. Overall, the script kept the audience entertained throughout and they showed their appreciation lavishly at the end of the show with cheers and loud clapping; Thingwall Players are backing a winner with Ladies Day.
The show runs from 10th-12th April 2025
Thingwall Players is a community theatre based in the
Wavertree Garden Suburb in South Liverpool with a history stretching back over
seventy-five years. Further information including details of their next
production at https://www.facebook.com/ThingwallPlayers/
Reviewer - Anne Horne
On – 10.4.25
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