Shirley Valentine

Willy Russell’s heart-warming comedy comes to the Wyvern Theatre

 

Wyvern Theatre, Swindon

Monday 12 - Saturday 17 June 2017

 

Shirley is a Liverpool housewife. Her kids have left home and she makes chips and egg for her husband while talking to the wall. Where has her life disappeared to? Out of the blue, her best friend offers her a trip to Greece for 2 weeks and she secretly packs her bags. She heads for the sun and starts to see the world and herself very differently.

 

Willy Russell’s heart-warming comedy premiered in 1986 and took the world by storm. It was adapted into an Oscar nominated film. Now, on its 30th anniversary, Jodie Prenger stars in the first major revival of this national treasure.

 

Tickets: £21.50 - £33.00

 

 

Shirley Valentine Review

by Kelly Jobanputra

 

A tale about a woman finding herself again whilst on holiday in Greece opened at the Wyvern this week and resulted in many laughs and a standing ovation.

 

Willy Russell's well-known comedy, Shirley Valentine, premiered over 30 years ago in 1986 and has had a loyal following ever since and I can totally see why after seeing this current show in Swindon which runs until this Saturday.

 

It's all about a frustrated housewife who is bored of having conversations with walls and domestic life with her husband; but she's stuck in a rut and can't see how her life can change.

 

 

Jodie Prenger played the part of Shirley in this one-woman show and was absolutely exceptional in her portrayal as a home-maker from Liverpool. She confidently brought this story to life and had everyone in hysterics as she explained her issues to the receptive crowd that had the Wyvern around three quarters full.

 

Her salvation came in the form of her best friend offering her a trip to Greece for two weeks and she secretly decided to pack her bags and go for it – which turns out to be a life-changing decision for the better because she got her zest for life back. Thoughts of her useless husband and needy children were far from her mind as she lapped up the sun and let her previous despair wash away.

 

You can’t help but love the character that is Shirley Valentine and by the end of the performance, you truly saw her as someone you would like to be friends with. Her one-liners were always flowing and her personality kept us on our toes.

  
This show has it all; excellent staging, a fantastic actress and a message that screams out that you never know what’s around the corner. Be sure to catch it whilst it’s still on in our town – you might end up being inspired.