Good for a Girl is a powerful and passionate exploration of women’s football – its growth, its triumphs, and the inequalities that persist.
Photography: Nicola Young
Written by Becky Decks and directed by Lucy Wild, this heartfelt and inspirational story not only celebrates the love of football but also highlights the challenges women still face in the sport today. It explores the divide between men’s and women’s sports, the lack of opportunities, pay disparities, and significant mistreatment. Throughout the performance, it is clear that this play is rooted in the real-life experiences of female footballers and the issues they continue to encounter.
This production delivered moments of hilarity, shock, and sadness in equal measure. The audience responded with passionate laughter and audible gasps, a testament to how deeply they connected with the characters. Despite having only five cast members, the production created a real sense of tension, making it entirely believable that they were in a full match – even without a visible opposition. By the time they built up to the hum of the football stadium during a penalty shoot-out, you could feel the anticipation and suspense ripple through the room.
The show makes great use of physical theatre, with the actors and set working in perfect harmony to create a vivid and immersive world. The minimal staging keeps the focus on the women at the heart of the story, allowing their performances to take centre stage. The characters feel authentic, layered, and full of purpose, giving the production an almost fly-on-the-wall documentary feel. Before long, I found myself completely invested, rooting for the team to succeed and feeling part of their sisterhood both on and off the pitch.
Saskia Davis’ portrayal of Gabi was a standout, feeling completely natural and effortless. She explored her character’s family dilemmas with impressive subtlety – especially remarkable given this was her professional stage debut. Meanwhile, Gina Jamieson’s Courtney brought an incredibly honest and emotionally charged performance, balancing her fun-loving nature with a depth that was deeply moving.
One of the play’s most thought-provoking elements is its exploration of motherhood in the world of professional sport. In a male-dominated career like football, parenthood is rarely considered a priority, yet Good for a Girl highlights the reality of balancing an unpredictable sporting career with the challenges of raising a family. In today’s cultural landscape, where we are encouraged to pursue both professional success and a fulfilling personal life, the play offers an insightful and relatable perspective.
Whether you love football or not, Good for a Girl has something for everyone. It strikes the perfect balance between humour and important cultural themes, making it an engaging and thought-provoking watch.
