The Union Theatre, London, have announced stars from stage and screen for new musical Rumpy! Pumpy! which opens this November.
The true story by Barbara Jane Mackie will star Linda Nolan (The Nolans, Mrs Johnstone, Blood Brothers) and Louise Jameson (Doctor Who, Bergerac, EastEnders, Doc Martin, The Mousetrap). The director is Simon Grieff (Associate Director on The Rocky Horror Show Live).
Rumpy! Pumpy! is the remarkable true story of two genteel ladies from the Hampshire Women’s Institute who take it upon themselves to campaign for better conditions for Working Girls.
When Jean Johnson and Shirley Landels decide to campaign for the decriminalisation of prostitution and to improve conditions for Working Girls everywhere, brothel madame, Holly Spencer, gets in touch. As the two conflicting worlds collide, comedy and chaos ensue in what has been described as, “a very British comedy musical.”
Writer and composer Barbara Jane Mackie was inspired by the story of their heroic campaign, one which took them around the world and which Jean Johnson is still fighting for to this day.
Mackie says: “I spent time with several brothel Madames, meeting their working girls and hearing their stories. I realised that the story of these girls would intertwine powerfully with the story of the two WI ladies, as all of these women wanted the same thing: the decriminalisation of prostitution. Rumpy Pumpy! is my way of wrapping up a complex subject and creating something fun and frothy with a gritty edge.”
Rumpy! Pumpy! is at The Union Theatre, Old Union Yard from Monday 14th to Saturday 19th November. Tickets cost £20 with concessions. Book online at uniontheatre.biz or call the Box Office on 020 7261 9876.
