Derbyshire based theatre company Oddsocks are “surprised and delighted” by the response to their new play about iconic Victorian Florence Nightingale.
“Florence Nightingale, The Lady With The Hammer just seems to be touring at the right time” says Creative Producer Elli Mackenzie who also appears in this original, funny yet moving new piece of theatre. “A few years ago, before Covid, we toured all year round with our outdoor Shakespeare in the summer and classic tales like ‘Treasure Island’ and ‘The Wind in the Willows’ in the winter but audiences were affected by Covid and theatres just didn’t pick up on our winter work afterward, concentrating on producing their own in house productions but with this new play we seem to be back in the loop and it’s very exciting”.
The new play, written by Oddsocks’ Artistic Director and featuring Florence Nightingale expert, Amber Lickerish, as the famous nineteenth century nurse: “I began working as an actor at the Florence Nightingale Museum, I was there for a fair few years and worked my way through the ranks and became the head educator and performer. I got to be Florence in all sorts of strange and unusual places. Not only in schools, but also at Lord Mayor’s show, in Westminster Abbey, and the Chelsea Flower Show as well”.
The play, which turns the image of the softly spoken, angel of the wards from the Crimean war on its head and reveals the woman behind the myth. Three actors playing a host of characters reveal Florence’s 90 years in 90 minutes of entertaining, funny, poignant and surprising storytelling.
Audiences at the premier performances said:
- “We liked it so much we went a second time!”
- “Fabulous evening’s entertainment”
- “So funny and informative”
Florence Nightingale The Lady With The Hammer is performing at the Sam Newsom Centre, Boston on Sunday 9th November 7:30pm.
