Key information

Duration: 45mins, no interval

Age guidance: 4+

Access: All performances are relaxed with acoustic sound and natural lighting.

Digital Programme:

The Three Wise Woman

Bobbie is 9-years-old.
Bobbie collects Christmas tree decorations from all around the world.
Bobbie likes it when things stay ‘right-on-time’.
Bobbie has a new baby sister.

It’s 2.30pm on Christmas eve, time for sledging, just like every year. Bobbie has tucked their favourite decorations safely into their pocket (or so they think) as they whizz down the hill.
“We best get the baby home” Mum calls, and a frustrated Bobbie unknowingly leaves our three decorations stranded in the snow.

Swapping camels for cows, and ‘westward leading’ for the Beverley Westwood, our decorations have a journey ahead, but are they ‘Wise’ enough to work together to find their way back?

Supported by East Riding Council, East Riding Libraries, Wykeland, I AM FUND.

ACCESS GUIDE

ABOUT SHE PRODUCTIONS

She Inspires. She Engages. She Empowers.

She Productions was formed in 2015 by a group of Hull and East Riding actresses who are committed to creating high quality, innovative work for audiences and participants of all ages. Our mission is to develop and produce vibrant
original work driven by the female voice, alongside accessible and bespoke programmes serving
local communities.

We have a strong focus on ‘edutainment’, which is using entertainment as a vehicle for social
change via productions and outreach work, meaning that all family shows have educational
themes and focus on social issues.
Through the development of the company over the years, and planned development for the future,
we have firmly rooted ourselves in the East Riding, with plans to continue engaging rural audiences
and working with intergenerational communities to create relevant and accessible work.

To get in touch about Wise Women or other productions please contact us at admin@sheproductions.co.uk

OUR CAST

MARIANA BARBERA

Narrator 1/ Fran/ Magpie 4

Mariana trained in Mexico City where she worked professionally for several years before she
decided to travel across the Atlantic and settle in the UK. Mariana has cowritten and performed in several shows like The Twilight Radio Show 1 and 2 (with Shift Key Theatre), Miss Cast (with She Productions) and Cabaret A Trois.
Some of her credits include: Hound of the Baskervilles; The Twilight Radio Show (East Riding Theatre), Miss Cast (ERT and International Cabaret Festival, Mexico City); Sparrow; Oliver Twist; Is There Anybody There?; in I Am Will; Leaving, Life and Love (East Riding Theatre); Cabaret A Trois (one year long tour in Mexico); A Respectable Wedding (CUT, Mexico City); Death Raft (Mexico City); A Superficial
Journey (Mexico City); Elba in Epifania (Mexico City); and the feature film Under the Weather
directed by Mal Williamson (UK, 2018).
Mariana also loves reading, walking her dogs and playing games with her family.

SOPHIE CLAY

Narrator 2/ Mum/ Myrtle/ Magpie 2

Sophie is an actor, theatre maker and founding and company member of Middle Child Theatre company based in Hull. Her credits are: Dante (From Below) GRIMM (Sugar Punch), Dungeons and Dragons: Yorkshires Nerdiest and Naughtiest Comedy Show (Silent Uproar), The Whispering Jungle (Concrete Youth), Beverly Does Broadway (She Productions), Hidden Histories (Mind The Gap), The Fairy Who Fell Off The Christmas Tree (SHE Productions), Ducklings (The Herd), Ten Storey Love Song (Middle Child), A Super Happy Story About Feeling Super Sad (Silent Uproar).

DELLA MAYLAN

Narrator 3/ Auntie Marta/ Goldie/ Magpie 3

Della Maylan was born and raised in Grimsby where she spent her early years honing her craft of acting by pretending to be ill so she could skip school.
Since then, she has found a real passion for a variety of performance skills, from stilt walking to puppetry – even winning the 2022 living statue world championships (alongside two teammates) in a piece which celebrated Hull’s Maritime History.

Della is excited to get back to theatre after spending time in LA earlier this year to film A Prodigal Feast (2024). Her theatre credits include Sidney’s Shed, Granny’s Game and Librarian Lil (Rhubarb Theatre) as well as God of Carnage and Abigails Party.

FRANKIE TURTON

Bobbie/ Magpie 1/ Pasture Master

Frankie is a wheelchair-using actor and musician. Frankie has performed many roles across film and theatre, with over 75 professional and amateur credits. Frankie is also a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter and releases their own music on various streaming sites.
Frankie is very excited to be working with She Productions on this show and is looking forward to bringing theatre to the local community

OUR CREATIVE TEAM

JESSICA DUFFIELD - DIRECTOR & WRITER

Jessica trained at Drama Studio London, after gaining a First Class BA Hons Degree in Drama and French.

As a founding member of She Productions, Jessica has co-written and performed in many of the company’s shows, including Beverley Does Broadway, The Three Kingdoms, The Lightless Pumpkin, The Lightless Pumpkin Returns, The StorytEllas and The Fairy Who Fell Off The Christmas Tree.

Jessica has also co-written and directed The Three Kingdoms, Beverley Does Broadway 2022, The Pirates of Christmas Island, Beverley Does Broadway 2023 and The Three Wise Women.

She also directed The StorytEllas Web Series, which she adapted for the screen during Lockdown.

Outside of She Productions, Jessica’s theatre work includes: Beryl in Beryl (Arcola Theatre and East Riding Theatre) Miss Thorne/Billeting Officer in Goodnight Mister Tom, (East Riding Theatre), Mum/Nan in My Big Little Sister (National Tour including The Lyric Hammersmith, The Yvonne Arnaud and Nottingham Playhouse); Lady Susan in Lady Susan, The Woman Who Cooked Her Husband, The Vagina Monologues (East Riding Theatre); Top Girls (Tristan Bates Theatre)

Jessica is also a qualified Modern Languages and Drama Teacher, has directed and facilitated for the Shakespeare Schools Festival and was nominated for the BBC Carleton Hobbs Bursary Award for Radio.

ANNIE KIRKMAN - PRODUCER & WRITER

Annie is a Co-Artistic Director of She Productions where she has co-written and performed in shows including Beverley Does Broadway, The Fairy Who Fell off the Christmas Tree, MissCast (El festival Internacional de Cabaret, Mexico City) & It’s Different for Girls (UK Tour).

Annie has also produced several of their shows including The Pirates of Christmas Island, The StorytEllas, She Fest: Digital & The Three Kingdoms and co-developed the company’s Finding Your Voice programme.
Annie trained in Musical Theatre at Mountview Academy. She is currently in Beauty & the Beast at the Stephen Joseph Theatre. Other theatre credits include: Ladies Day (New Vic Theatre & Octagon) The Hound of the Baskervilles, Frost Hollow Hall, Sparrow, A Christmas Carol (East Riding Theatre), 71 Coltman Street, Leftovers (Hull Truck Theatre) Beryl (Arcola
Theatre) Dungeons & Dragons: An Unofficial Adventure (Silent Uproar), Red Riding Hood (Nottingham Lakeside Theatre) The Butler Dresses Again, Oliver Twist (LAF, New Zealand) Here & Now, Shakers (The John Godber Theatre Company)
Voiceover credits include: Alzheimer’s Research UK, Royal Public Society of Health, Branston Pickle, The Witching Hour (Periplum)

ALICE ROSE PALMER - WRITER

Alice’s theatre credits include Under Milkwood (East Riding Theatre) One woman play ‘Bombshells’ by Joanna Murray-Smith (East Riding Theatre), Lucy in Hilda and The Northern Powerhouse (Amanda Huxtable & Kate Hainsworth, Grimsby Minster), Winifred Holtby in A Life of My Own, Terri in Burning Bright & Clair in Earworm (Single Story Theatre, Heads Up Festival), Lucy in Don Jon (Silent Uproar).

Alice is a co-artistic director of She Productions. Since 2015, Alice has performed in and co-written Beverley does Broadway, The Three Kingdoms, The Lightless Pumpkin, The StoryTellas, Miss-Cast, Honey I Stereotyped the Kids, Beverley Does Broadway: The Rebound, sell-out new musical It’s Different For Girls, The StorytEllas Web series, The Fairy who Fell off the Christmas Tree, The Pirates of Christmas Island and The Three Wise Women.

NATALIE WALKER - MUSICAL DIRECTOR

Natalie was born and raised in East Yorkshire. She graduated from Hull University in 2014 with a BA in Music and Theatre but has been working professionally as a musician since 2009. Much of this time has been spent accompanying, arranging and performing with choirs, including playing several guest spots with performers from the West End and English National Opera. Her main passion is theatre, and she has recently worked as MD for a production of Shakespeare in Love in York, as well as working for 5 years as a creative with Castaway Music Theatre – an accessible musical theatre company in Goole.

MARINA PAPADOPOULOS - COMPOSER

Marina is a graduate of the first cohort of BA Actor-Musicians from the Guildford School of Acting in 2018. Having worked in various productions with She as an actor, Marina is now working behind the scenes as an arranger/composer. In 2020 Marina composed music for She Productions’ ‘Bombshells’, after composing and acting in the first run of ‘The Fairy Who Fell Off The Christmas Tree.’ Marina is a keen instrumentalist - playing piano, guitar, viola and drums, and is a proud associate artist with She Productions.

JENNY SMITH - CO-PRODUCER

Jenny Smith is a Hull/Yorkshire based creative currently working with She Productions as a Co-Producer on their wonderful show, The Three Wise Women. She is also working as their Social Media/Marketing Manager and this is her second show she’s helped produce with She Productions.

Her previous industry work lies within management, acting, writing and dancing…so she’s not always working behind the scenes! She is very passionate about making theatre as accessible as possible, so is enjoying taking this wonderful show to audiences across East Riding of Yorkshire.

AMY ASHWELL- STAGE MANAGER

Amy is a freelance stage manager and theatre maker from the East Riding of Yorkshire. She has just finished her MA in Stage and Event Management from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, after graduating with an English and Drama degree from the University of Hull.

Her recent credits include ASM - Baba Joon (The Other Room Theatre), PM - One Act Operas (RWCMD), Production Assistant – New Season 23 (RWCMD), SM - The Welkin (RWCMD), Co-producer – RABBITHOLE (NSDF 2022).

Amy is excited to be working with She Productions for the first time and touring this fantastic production to local schools and libraries over the Christmas season.

EMMA TAYLOR- ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER

Emma Taylor is a Hull-based creative working as an Assistant Stage Manager and Understudy for She Productions new show, the Three Wise Women. She was also involved in the incorporation of Makaton, delivering sessions for the cast to make the show more accessible.

As a recent graduate in MA Theatre Making (University of Hull), she has previously worked in Education, Sensory Theatre and as an intern of PQ2023. She is currently working with Concrete Youth and has experience with PMLD audiences.

EMILY CLAY - SET DESIGN

Emily has been working as a set designer with SheProductions since 2019, both at East Riding Theatre, on their library tours and working as a workshop facilitator on their community outreach projects. She loves bringing environmentally friendly techniques to original SheProductions shows and cannot wait to share the tale of the Three Wise Women with you this Christmas!