Scary Little Girls

Scary Little Girls' production for Hallowe'en 2008 was more popular than ever, packing out the Beauchamp Lodge barge on London's Grand Canal once again.

Dark solution to a darker problem

Artists unite at Hallowe’en to combat violence against women

Actors, writers and composers from stage and screen will set sail this Hallowe’en, raising funds to put an end to a frighteningly real terror: violence against women.

The artist-led production, Dark Fancies, promises quivers and shivers as ghost stories, songs and poems merge with sounds floating out of the unknown. Tales of twisted humour, luckless love and blood-soaked devotion will be shared in the most intimate of nocturnal settings: a barge afloat in London’s Grand Union Canal.

Drawing on four centuries of women’s writing on sex, love and power, Dark Fancies features the work of Stella Duffy, the author of the 2008 novel The Room of Lost Things... and the production’s cast is no less versed in the Gothic and otherworldly.

Sally Mortemore, best known for her role as librarian Madame Pince in the Harry Potter films, is reunited with former cast mates Joannah Tincey, TJ Holmes and Lexx guest-star Rebecca Mordan. Each has appeared in previous Scary Little Girls’ productions, including the acclaimed 2003 Dracula retelling, The Kisses.

Drifting between Paddington and Camden Lock through the dark tunnels of Little Venice, past a deserted Regent’s Park with the night-time rumblings of London Zoo in the distance, a chilling atmosphere is guaranteed.

Rebecca Mordan, also the show’s producer, says: “It is thrilling to be collaborating with such a diverse and talented cast. Abigail has a gift for dark theatre, and this promises to be a memorable evening filled with black humour and bone-chilling tales.

“However, for many women, their most memorable evening is frighteningly real. Every 27 seconds, a woman in Britain endures domestic violence… and, on average, a rape is committed every 11 minutes. “For the majority of these women, their pleas for justice fall on deaf ears, with just one in 20 rape cases ending in a conviction. This is why any profits from this production will once again go to supporting the work of the London Feminist Network and the Reclaim the Night march."

Credits:

Abigail Anderson          Director
TJ Holmes                   Performer
Rebecca Mordan          Performer
Rebecca Morrison        Designer
Sally Mortemore          Performer
Caroline Pulford          Production Assistant
Joannah Tincey           Performer

Matthew Collins          Web Design
Dickon Knowles           Flyer Image
David McGuire             Press Representative
Daniel Searle              Photography
Adrian Walker             General Manager

Thanks to:

All at the Beauchamp Lodge Electric Barge, Marie and John and all at The John Knowles Company, Ross Anderson, The Fawcett Society, The London Feminist Network, Sharon Andrews, Rebecca Cavil, Nicola Brizell, Ashley Beddon, Laura Trevail and Snuffkin Mordan.

And especial thanks to Kate, Stella, Susan and Rachel, the writers who kindly donated their work to us and whose contributions are a consummate joy!

In Loving Memory Of Juniper Mordan:

My candle burns at both ends
It will not last the night;
But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends –
It gives a lovely light!

                              Edna St Vincent Millay

Audience comments from our feedback book:

Wicked! – Jonathan

Fabulous, lots of fun, with a little magic – Shevaine

Really enjoyed ourselves – Ruth

Spoooky! – Mark and Lorna

Great adventure!  Wacky and off beat.  Well done all! – Lucy-Anne

Great night and choice of material – Thank you! – Sophia

Beautiful night, gorgeous music, so hospitable! – K

Virgins live, eh? Well, well, well…Fabulous evening, what an experience – Ally

Very, very good, thank you very much – and all for a very good cause!  Please continue – R.C

Beautiful girls, scary stories – a great way to spend an evening! – Nicola

Loved it! – Isabelle

An atmospheric evening!  Virgins live, sluts die – fabulous!  The best Halloween, I loved the tunnels and the cello! – Lisa and Simon

Great evening.  Creative concept, superb.  Thank you – L.W

A magic night…and I know because I am a wizard! - ?

Fabulous evening – loved the last song! – Nicole and Alison

Really enjoyed it! – Jessica

Lovely evening - Vanessa

Thanks for an excellent evening – George

Really brilliant, so original, thank you and please do more events like this! - Sandrine

Thanks for a great evening – very original!