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A Kate O'Donnell and Contact Co-Production.

Who knew what being transgender was in the 1970s? Not Kate’s family. To be fair, crispy pancakes had only just landed in the Midlands so she had her work cut out. The path to becoming a woman doesn’t always run smooth and with a lifetime of coming out, Kate has had to use every trick — theatrical and otherwise — to get by.

Big Girl’s Blouse sees Kate make a song and dance about her life using humour, music and costume to tell her story. The show established Kate as a genuine Manchester original, toured extensively winning awards along the way, and paved the way for setting up new trans-led theatre company Trans Creative.

    ‘A Manchester Legend’

    Time Out

      ‘Furiously funny loud and proud trans woman making waves’ 

      The Sunday Times

        ‘Big Girl’s Blouse is a transfusion of hope, love and joy. Kate’s story fills all our hearts. One size fits all’ 

        Stacey Makishi

        Winner of The Brighton Fringe LGBTQ Award 2015.

        CREDITS:

        Commissioned by Contact.
        Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, with support by the Wellcome Collection as part of the Sexology Season.

        CREATIVE TEAM:

        Directors/ Collaborators: Mark Whitelaw, Helen Baggett, and Jane Lancaster.
        Musical Director & Production Manager: Jude Jagger
        Stylist and Costume Design: Grace Oni Smith
        Costume Maker: Katie Duxbury
        Lighting Design: Jack Dale
        Print Design, Video & Photography: Lee Baxter
        Producer: Jenny Gaskell

        TOUR DATES 2015-16

        Wed 11 and Thu 12 Feb. 
        UK PREMIERE
        Contact, Oxford Road, Manchester M15 6JA
        £10/6 – 0161 274 0600
        contactmcr.com

        Fri 8, Sat 9 and Sun 10 May.
        The Malborough Theatre, 4 Princes Street, Brighton BN2 1RD
        £9/7 – 01273 91 72 72
        boxoffice.brightonfringe.org/theatre/9334/big-girl-s-blouse

        Sun 14 Jun.
        Slung Low’s HUB, 67-71 Bath Road, Holbeck, Leeds LS11 9UA
        Pay what you decide – boxoffice@slunglow.org  
        slunglow.org

        Fri 18 Sept 2015.
        The Dukes, Moor Lane, Lancaster, LA1 1QE
        £13 (£11) – 01524 598500
        dukes-lancaster.org/events/event/big-girls-blouse

        Sat 26 Sept 2015.
        Hull Truck Theatre, 50 Ferensway, Hull, HU2 8LB
        Sat 26 Sept 2015, 8pm
        £12 (£10) – 01482 323638
        hulltruck.co.uk/whats-on?action=view&id=932

        Fri 23 Oct 2015.
        Cast, Waterdale, Doncaster, DN1 3BU
        £10.50 (£8.50)* – 01302 303 959
        castindoncaster.com
        *includes 50p per ticket booking fee, not charged if paying by cash

        Sat 7 Nov 2015.
        Homotopia – Unity Theatre, 1 Hope Place, Liverpool, L1 9BG
        £12 (£10) – 0151 709 4988
        unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk/whats-on/big-girls-blouse.html

        Fri 20 Nov 2015.
        Croydonites – Croydon
        Stanley Halls, South Norwood Hill, London SE25
        croydonites.com

        Thu 4 Feb 2016.
        Harrogate Theatre, Oxford Street, Harrogate, HG1 1QF
        £12 (£10) – 01423 502 116
        harrogatetheatre.co.uk

        Fri 5 & Sat 6 Feb 2016.
        Northern Stage, Barras Bridge, Newcastle, NE1 7RH
        0191 230 5151
        northernstage.co.uk

        Thu 25 Feb 2016.
        New Wolsey Studio, St. Georges Street, Ipswich, IP1 3NF
        Tickets from £5 – 01473 295900
        wolseytheatre.co.uk

        Fri 11 & Sat 12 Mar 2016.
        Warwick Arts Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL
        024 7652 4524
        warwickartscentre.co.uk

        Fri 13 & Sat 14 May 2016.
        Contact, Oxford Road, Manchester, M15 6JA
        £15 (£10) – 0161 274 0600
        contactmcr.com/kateodonnell
        Part of Flying Solo Festival 2016.