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The Revlon Girl

Full-Length Play, Drama  /  5w

Neil Anthony Docking

Set eight months after the Aberfan Disaster of 1966, in which 144 people were killed (116 of them children), The Revlon Girl tells the real-life story of a group of bereaved mothers who met every week above a local hotel to talk, cry and even laugh without feeling guilty.

The Revlon Girl

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    5w
  • Duration
    Duration
    90 minutes
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Docudrama/History
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult

Details

Summary

Eight months after the Aberfan Disaster of 1966, in which 144 people were killed (116 of them children), a group of bereaved mothers meet weekly above a local hotel to talk, cry and even laugh without feeling guilty. At one of their previous meetings, the women looked at each other and admitted how much they felt they’d let themselves go. Afraid that people will think them frivolous, they’ve secretly arranged for a representative from Revlon to come and give them a talk on beauty tips.

History

A short version of The Revlon Girl was first presented at the Tristan Bates Theatre (Covent Garden) in 2015. The full version premiered in 2017 at the Pontardawe Arts Centre, just before its inclusion at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (at the Assembly Roxy) and its subsequent London run at Park Theatre (Finsbury Park). Directed by Maxine Evans, the full production featured Charlotte Gray, Zoë Harrison, Antonia Kinlay, Michelle McTernan and Bethan Thomas.

Cast Attributes
Keywords
Performing Groups

(in order of appearance)

SIAN – Late twenties, bright, hopeful and eager to help, Sian is very much the instigator (and defender) of the evening’s event and is desperate for it to go well.
REVLON – Around the same age as Sian (if not younger), Revlon is smart, well-groomed, well-bred, trusting and clearly does not come from a Welsh working-class mining village.
MARILYN – Early to mid-thirties, Marilyn is introverted, tense and fearful of change. Though outwardly simple, she is very focused.
RONA – Early to mid-thirties, Rona is fiery, foul-mouthed and indomitable. She finds strength in rage, rejects authority and is easily set alight.
JEAN – Early to mid-thirties, Jean is stately, conservative and sociable. Though she hails from the same background as Marilyn and Rona, Jean is now the wife of a respected church minister and therefore regards herself as a pillar of the community.
JACKIE (UNSEEN) – The hotel’s part-time receptionist/barmaid; helpful but inattentive.

  • Time Period 1960s
  • Setting

    A function room above the Aberfan Hotel. June 1967.

  • Features Period Costumes
  • Additional Features No Intermission
  • Duration 90 minutes
  • Cautions
    • Mild Adult Themes

Media

“A remarkably warm, sorrowful and at times even funny drama about survivors, small-town bickering and make-up.” – The Independent

★★★★★ “An intimate and moving narrative that soars to new heights... this deeply human story is rendered with profound emotion and understanding.” – Varsity

★★★★ “A rich drama about grief, greed and make-up... Four mothers grieve the loss of their children in the Aberfan disaster in a remarkably warm, sorrowful and at times even funny drama about survivors, small-town bickering and make-up.” – The Independent

“[A] visionary new play.” – The Times

“I shall never forget what I saw that day on television… Now I shall never forget the play... this is a study in the masks grief wears, and what it takes and what it might mean to put on a brave face.” – Clare Brennan, The Guardian

Videos

  • The Revlon Girl – Official Trailer, Edinburgh Fringe 2017 youtube thumbnail

    The Revlon Girl – Official Trailer, Edinburgh Fringe 2017

  • The Revlon Girl – Riverfront Arts Trailer youtube thumbnail

    The Revlon Girl – Riverfront Arts Trailer

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £70 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

    Please submit a license request to determine availability.

Scripts

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Authors

Neil Anthony Docking

Neil Anthony Docking

Neil Anthony Docking is a British writer, composer and producer, and has worked in press, radio, film and, most recently, for theatre, where his first play – The Revlon Girl – received not just an Olivier Nomination, but also took home “Best New Play” at the Off-West End Awar ...

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