Details

Soapsud Island draws from the vividly recalled memories of local laundry workers in the 1930's and 1940's and celebrates them in drama and song. PlayBack were privileged to share the recollections of nearly thirty elderly people who had devoted their working lives in the laundries of West London. Celebratory but never sentimental it is a rich tapestry of happy and poignant memories woven into a drama that also uses both original and familiar music to great effect to create a period flavour and explain laundry processes. There's a sharp edge to the humour. These are real people whose lives are, in many ways, unremarkable and typical of many working people of the time. Yet, in Soapsud Island the characters interact with the audience with such sincerity and candour that it's impossible not to feel included personally in their joys and sadness.

Creatives/Company

Author: Phillip Sheahan
Company: Thurrock Courts Players