A Girls Guide to World War

“A Girls Guide to World War” is on at the Powerhouse 3rd - 20th Feb. Winners of the 2019 Lord Mayor's award for Best New Australian Work and the first regional production to win a Matilda Award appeared last weekend to standing ovations in Brisbane Powerhouse Underground Theatre.

Passion, girl power and a brilliant performance by the cast are the strengths of this new homegrown musical drama. It’s not your usual showboat musical though it does feature plenty of great original songs. From Minnette Cooper’s haunting Purple Tree, Aleathaea Monsour & Susie French’s challenging “All I know is war” and Marge Fordes frivolous “Lighthouse”. A Girl’s Guide to World War brings to the stage powerful performances and clever vocal arrangements.

In 1916, a handful of Australian lady doctors decide they want to go to war. When the army turns them down – they go anyway. What follows is a year that changes their lives forever, a year filled with passion, freedom and power.

It is the story of Dr Agnes Bennett & Dr Lillian Cooper, amongst Australia's greatest heroines of the First Word War, they operated a field hospital on the Serbian Front and saved thousands of lives in this savage edge of the war. There is a powerful understory of Women's rights & recognition, Sexuality & perseverance.

“The response to the show has been overwhelming,” says the composer Aleathea. “We want people to have a great time at the show – there’s humour, live music, rollicking adventure – but underneath that, there’s a very special story about compassion and courage...”

“This show is about Australian women – and specifically Brisbane women – who truly changed history,” adds lyricist and writer Katy. “These women have been forgotten, and we’re passionate about bringing them back into the light where they belong.”