In March 2024 Script-In-Hand joined forces with Plymouth Proprietary Library's Writers' Group to create a performance for International Women's Day

One of our latest performances was inspired by a short play called “I knew they wouldn’t help…they never do” by Ruby Nation who was commissioned by the Neighbourhood Watch to write this piece.

Hence, we asked other local writers to contribute pieces about city life which particularly focused neighbours looking out for each other and the difference a stranger’s help can make.

Our title, “Matthew 22:39” was not intended to imply that only the Christian Bible focuses the importance of ‘loving your neighbour’ for this commandment forms a pivotal part of all major religions, in particular, Islam, which emphasises that ‘neighbour’ means anyone who needs you regardless of race, creed, gender or social class. The Qur’an centres on reciprocity of care and how this will create harmony and enable the building of better more peaceful communities. Buddhism likewise stresses the value of reciprocity with ‘light your neighbour’s candle and it will light your path too’. Buddha emphasises that Kindness is a profound state of being that stems from a genuine concern for the well-being of all sentient beings.

Not only do all the world ‘religions’ command their followers to love their neighbour regardless of race, creed, gender or social status, but it is also integral to Humanism and Atheism. Hence it binds us together across the walls and divides which cause wars and terror; hopefully, such understanding, one day, will rid us of these walls. Like Blanche Du Bois, we all should be able to depend on ‘the kindness of strangers’.

Home Win!

Stripped Down Theatre Group Scores

A Blinder!

'This was local drama at its finest and most quintessential, here in Plymouth.
On Monday evening, on the strong recommendation of an old friend, I made my way from Sussex to Devon to watch the penultimate performance of ‘Unsuitable For Females.’ The subject matter was the real-life women’s football drama both local and national from over a century ago, by Script In Hand Theatre. It was about to complete an 8 night run in 8 separate city community spaces.
Firstly - the building where we sat - an indoor market in a revived Union Street building, is owned by ‘Nudge’ community interest company. A pleasure and an education in itself .
Second - no backdrops, no sound or lighting systems - just powerful voices reading from excellent scripts - backed up with incredible found photos on a small screen of Plymouth’s own Ladies Football Team from 1918 to 1921.
The story is amazing and based on true events. I can tell you there’s no happy ending to this play. Despite the immense popularity of women’s football at that time, it was deliberately scuppered by the FA.
My call out to Plymouth Argyle FC is - get behind this. It’s a heaven sent opportunity to promote women’s football in a meaningful way.
We didn’t have to buy tickets - donations were requested for the local charities involved. The actors even provided the refreshments. I left humbled and inspired. " (C Lawrence)

"Brilliant!! Superb acting."

"Excellent production! Extremely interesting and still very valid topic!

Supremely funny and beautifully acted."

In our own small local way, we hope that we have picked up the gauntlet to fill in the gaps and to tell Plymouth’s story of the brief but glorious history of our city’s first women’s football team in 1921-22, all too soon suffocated by the F.A.’s ‘sex prejudice’ ban that declared football was ‘unsuitable for females’.

We were inspired to create this drama, not only by David J. Williamson’s book but by David Lyons, who suggested the project to us last summer, and the initial and ground-breaking research undertaken and freely given to us by local historian, Anne Corry.

We thank both of these people most sincerely for setting us on this fascinating path of research and discovery; at times it has overwhelmed and frustrated us, partly because of the lack of knowledge and interest in this incredible piece of Plymouth’s history on the part of Plymouth Argyle Men, but to balance that we have benefitted from some incredible support and input from the following people:

Sylvia Brice, Megan & Helen Bishop, Tess Blight, Paul Gillard, Lily Felgate & Kate Lyon, Hayley Jones, Laura Joint, Katie Middleton, Giota Papaioannou, Victoria Pike, Jane Rance, Caroline Seddon, Tim Tate, Alex Jackson (National Football Museum) and Argyle Women.