Features

Collective Rage's Lucy McCormick: a week in the life

The show makes its UK premiere at the end of the month

Lucy McCormick
Lucy McCormick

Antic Face present Jen Silverman's Collective Rage at the Southwark Playhouse this month.

Directed by Charlie Parham, the show sees the lives of five women, each named Betty, collide in New York. Infused with feminist, cabaret and female drag themes, the show won acclaim when it debuted in Washington in 2016.

We asked Lucy McCormick – who plays Betty #2 – to give us a glimpse into the production as the show enters its final week of rehearsals before moving into the south London venue.


Raging in rehearsals

LM: "Papped during a movement rehearsal.  Just workin' on smashing the
dictatorship of patriarchy… Ain't no biggie :)"

Circle time for the Betties

LM: "Lots of talking around the themes within the play; feminism, gender discourse,
queer theory, sexuality…"

Eye see you

LM: "The show is being supported by MAC cosmetics and our characters' 'looks' are being individually created on us at MAC headquarters… What can I say, that's showbiz!"

The famous five

LM: "Who run the world? Girlz! Me with the rest of the amazing cast."

Putting on a theatre mask

LM: "Beginning of the week – a short rehearsal process calls for multitasking."

Coffee shop culture

LM: "Midweek – casual line learning before, during and after rehearsal!!"

Fizz Friday

LM: "End of the week – it's my professional duty to take time out and relax. I'm
really good at this bit."

Signing off

LM: "Come see us! The Betties x"


Collective Rage: A Play in Five Betties runs at Southwark Playhouse from 29 January to 17 February, with previews from 24 January.