New musical Gwenda’s Garage to have world premiere this autumn

Exclusive: Gwenda’s Garage, a new British musical from Out of the Archive in association with Sheffield Theatres, will premiere this autumn with runs at Sheffield Theatres’ Tanya Moiseiwitsch Playhouse and Southwark Playhouse Borough.

Written by Nicky Hallett with music by Val Regan, Gwenda’s Garage is set in 1980s Sheffield during Thatcher’s Britain and is inspired by the true story of a women-run garage founded in 1985 by three mechanics – Ros Wollen, Annette Williams and Ros Wall. Named after record-breaking racing driver Gwenda Stewart, the garage became a space for both car repair and women’s activism.

Taking that story as a point of inspiration, the musical follows a group of women as they take on Section 28 and campaign for LGBTQ+ rights.

The cast includes Nancy Brabin-Platt as Bev, Eva Scott as Carol, Sia Kiwa as Terry, Lucy Mackay as Dipstick, Georgina Coram as Feona, and Liz Kitchen in multiple roles.

The creative team is led by director and dramaturg Jelena Budimir, with set design by Sarah Booth, costume design by Becky Graham, and sound design by Joe Dines. Musical direction comes from Val Regan, with Liz Kitchen as associate musical director.

The band features Jude Holland on bass guitar, Richard Body on keyboard, Kitchen on drums, and Becky Eden Green on saxophone and clarinet. The lead producer is Jas Nisic, with Gabby Vautier as associate producer for imPOSSIBLE Producing.

Gwenda’s Garage runs in Sheffield from 15 to 25 October, with a press night on 16 October. It then transfers to Southwark Playhouse Borough from 30 October to 29 November, with a press night on 4 November.

Tickets for the London run will be available from 10am today.