Bold Girls

by Rona Munro

Genre: Drama Characters: 4 females Scenery: 2 interiors, exteriors or unit set

The drama of everyday life in Belfast: burning buses, ravaged blocks, gunfire are but off-stage events in this stirring play about three women whose men have been killed or imprisoned for their political activities. Chilling themes are off set by many humorous and heart warming moments in this play about people, not politics, which offers excellent acting opportunities.

1991 Winner, Susan Smith Blackburn Award; Evening Standard's Most Promising Playwright Award.

Genres: Plays, Drama, Theatre

Paperback

First published September 1, 1995

About the author

Rona Munro is a Scottish writer. She has written plays for theatre, radio, and television. Her film work includes Ken Loach's Ladybird, Ladybird (1994), Oranges and Sunshine (2010) for Jim Loach and Aimée & Jaguar (1999), co-authored by German director Max Färberböck. Her television work includes the last Doctor Who television serial of the original run to air, Survival (1989), episodes of the drama series Casualty (BBC) and the BBC film Rehab., directed by Antonia Bird.

Her play Iron which has received many productions worldwide. Other plays include Strawberries in January (translation) for the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Mary Barton for Manchester Royal Exchange, Long Time Dead for Plymouth Drum Theatre and Paines Plough, and The Indian Boy for the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Munro contributed eight dramas to Radio 4's Stanley Baxter Playhouse: First Impressions, Wheeling Them In, The King's Kilt, Pasta Alfreddo at Cafe Alessandro, The Man in the Garden, The Porter's Story, The German Pilot and The Spider.

In 2006 the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith presented Munro's adaptation of Richard Adams' classic book, Watership Down.

Her play, The Last Witch, was performed at the 2009 Edinburgh Festival, directed by Dominic Hill, and in 2011 by Dumbarton People's Theatre. Her history cycle The James Plays, James I, James II and James III, were first performed by the National Theatre of Scotland in summer 2014 in a co-production with Edinburgh International Festival and the National Theatre of Scotland.

Reviews

[izzie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This play was introduced to me by my LAMDA coach and I don't think I ever would have read it if she didn't recommend it and I'm happy I did. Munro clearly displays the difficulties for women during the period of the IRA fighting with the Brits without actually pinpointing her political views on the historical event which is refreshing as it gives a plain, non-bias approach. The minimal use of introducing too many characters, there are only four and they are all women, is a nice touch as it allows the reader to connect with each individual through their respective monologues. The plot lacks a precise ending but I enjoyed it as it allows your mind to wander through the possibilities of what could have happened. An empathetic piece of work that conveys the difficulties and contrast of a different period of time.

[Amalorpam Joseph-smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was about 3 women and how different but yet similar their lives were.Good read for me

[Paul Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. Explored the troubles from the female perspective.

Best quote - Half the time I don’t think the men want to go. Half the time they just want something better for us all.

They don’t want to be raging and screaming and hurting more than they can ever forget in the booze or the crack or the men beating other men. I don’t think they know what they want at all or how to get it if they did.

[Sseonana · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just boring

[chlo · Rating 5 out of 5]

read in one sitting and loved all of it 5/5

[Carenza · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting topic, but at times it became confusing

[Erin Johnston · Rating 3 out of 5]

surprisingly comforting despite the constant air of feud and battle. for some reason ireland holds a special place in my heart.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three women whose partners have been taken from them by Ireland's "Troubles" try to deal with day-to-day existence. A fourth young woman comes into their lives, making them question coping mechanisms.

I read this play in grad school. Liked it, but didn't love it. Now I really like, am this-close to loving it. The emotional lives of the women make more sense to me now, as does the political situation in Ireland. The author explores the ways in which we deceive ourselves and each other, how we disconnect with those closest to us just to survive. The hope of understanding and connection at the end may be too twee for some, but I found it touching and realistic.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although it takes a little while to properly get into (I dont think it really held my attention until about halfway through), it makes for an interesting read. I found the monologues to be especially well written and really enjoyed reading them and found Marie to be particularly interesting. The ending is quite unexpected and definitley worth sticking around for. Maybe not one of my favourite plays, but worth looking out for in the library nonetheless.

[Erin Cleary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This play took me by surprise. The synopsis was super interesting and I loved the idea of an entire female cast. All of the characters had different unique voices and as the secrets got revealed, the stakes got higher and higher. I think this play lacks action, and since the cast is so small, a lot of attention must be paid to characterization and the relationships between the characters.

[Paul Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, this is a story about a mother, daughter, her friend, and an eventual sibling that you find out about later.

One of the few books done during National 5 studies in Scotland.

Really good to read.