Mikron Theatre

The wonderful Mikron Theatre has returned to Oxfordshire on its narrowboat from Yorkshire with two new shows to entertain us with.

The first is Amanda Whittington’s new play Atalanta Forever which looks at the story of the pioneering women in football in 1920 and redresses an old wound.

Set in 1920 in post-war Britain, Atalanta Forever is based on the true story of a women’s football team in Huddersfield in post war Britain. During the Great War several women’s football teams sprung up around the country, usually based in factories or munitions works, to raise money for hospitals, war widows and so on.

Atalanta Forever

The popularity of women’s football then became a cause for concern, seen to be taking support away from the men’s game and on December 5, 1921, the FA banned women’s teams from using FA affiliated grounds.

Amanda adds: “I was an 11-year old footballer in the 1980s, the only girl who played in the boy’s village tournament and I vividly remember being ‘advised’ to stop because it wasn’t appropriate. I still feel the injustice, and the sense of shame for wanting to do something I wasn’t meant to. It brings joy to my heart to see football is now the biggest team sport for girls in Britain. I wanted to write about the battle the women’s game has fought to survive and prosper – and perhaps to tell the 11-year-old me she was right?”

Atalanta Forever

Catch Atalanta Forever at Wharf House, Cropredy, Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX17 1PG on TUESDAY 17th AUGUST 7.30pm. Tickets at https://mikron.org.uk/tour_dates

As is Mikron’s forte, Atalanta Forever will be touring alongside a second play, Poppy Hollman’s new comedy caper A Dog’s Tale which celebrate canines past and present and explores the enduring love between people and their dogs through the lens of Crufts.

Playwright Poppy Hollman explains: I spent two fascinating days at Crufts last year, eavesdropping on competitors and trying to work out which dog would win in each competition. My impression of Crufts was that whilst dog participation was on a fairly exclusive basis, a huge variety of humankind was in evidence, testament perhaps to the huge importance of dogs to many different people.”

A Dog’s Tale

Director Rachel Gee added: “We can’t wait to welcome audiences (and their dogs) to shows up and down the country. Dog lover or not, this is the perfect night out for fun, laughter and wonderful songs.”

Catch A Dog’s Tale on Thursday 12th August at 7.30pm – Boat Inn, Canal Road, Thrupp, Kidlington, Oxfordshire, OX5 1JY

Friday 13th August at 7.00pm – The Pig Place, @NB Acres, Aynho Road, Adderbury, Banbury, OX17 3NU

Wednesday 18th August at 7.30pm – Wharf Inn, Cropredy, Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX17 1PG. Book at https://mikron.org.uk/shows/a-dogs-tale