SuffolkNews reviews Spitfire Girls from Tilted Wig Productions at the New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich

‘As war shook their land they took to the skies’ is the tagline for Spitfire Girls which has been gripping audiences at the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich this week.

Though these words give a taste of the history the play is based on, they don’t do justice to the human story behind it.

Written and meticulously researched by Katherine Senior, Spitfire Girls has been brought to Suffolk by Tilted Wig Productions.

As the curtain came up I was apprehensive for the actors involved, possibly because it's a relatively new show.

Though the story started on New Year’s Eve 1959 there are flashbacks and flashforwards throughout.

Initially I was unsure of the relationship between the main characters, this may be done on purpose, but with the clever time jump revealing their history, all became clear.

Spitfire Girls tells the tale of two sisters working on a farm who sign up for the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA), during World War Two.

Older sister Bett, played by Katherine Senior, is sensible, sarcastic and a tad overprotective.

Her character is complimented by her younger sister Dotty (Laura Matthews), who is spirited, romantic and carefree.

There is a line in the play when Bett points out that Dotty hasn’t ever driven a car yet wants to ferry fighter jets around in wartime.

This line is based in fact.

Some of the real-life women, who signed up for the ATA, had no driving experience at all.

The themes of Spitfire Girls cover everything from romance and jealousy to female empowerment.

As well as giving a glimpse of life inside the cockpit.

Transitions and performance art cleverly portrayed what the freedom of flying feels like.

As you would expect in a play about World War Two both sisters experience great tragedy.

Both Senior and Matthews portrayed their characters' grief with breathtaking drama.

As an overprotective big sister myself, I felt it in my bones.

Spitfire Girls seamlessly managed to merge the history of the ATA with real human emotions and it should be applauded for it.

*I was even impressed by its programme, which was as stylish as the set adorned with the iconic Royal Air Force roundel.

The back of the programme promised another tour of Spitfire Girls in 2026 and I can only see blue skies ahead for its future.

You can watch Spitfire Girls at the New Wolsey from now until Saturday.

Rosalind Steele will play Bett for performances later in the week.

More information about tickets can be found on the theatre’s website.

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