Newcastles first feminist brought to life (and death) in new Shelagh Stephenson play at Live Theatre

Live Theatre kicks off their Radical North East season with a surreal new comedy giving  voice to Mary Astell, largely considered one of the English-speaking world’s first published  feminists. Written by the prolific Shelagh Stephenson (Memory Of Water, Harriet  Martineau Dreams of Dancing) Astell & Woolf imagines an encounter between the  forgotten feminist and her more celebrated counterpart, Virginia Woolf, in a waiting room in  the afterlife.

Playing from Thursday 14 May to Saturday 6 June 2026, the fast-paced two-hander,  packed with dark comedy and electrifying language, oƯers an unexpected look at major  feminist issues, using comedy to delve into a much darker reality.

The production will be directed by Scottish born North East-based director Karen Traynor,  who enjoyed critical acclaim for her production of Tiny Fragments of Light at Alphabetti.

Karen Traynor commented: “Feminism can feel like a challenging word these days. So  perhaps this is the perfect moment to examine the idea of it, what it means to us and where  it began. Mary Astell is our very own North East pioneer, and like many other great women  from history is relegated to its furthest ranks. Shelagh’s clever and brilliant play allows us to  see her at last: imagine her wit, her intelligence and finally, perhaps, claim her as our own. The conversation between Astell and Woolf is provocative and hilarious, and I can’t  wait to get in the rehearsal room with both of them!”

Writer Shelagh Stephenson said: ‘Art, God, the patriarchy, two bottles of sherry and wave  particle duality. Something for everyone. Plus jokes!”

Live Theatre’s Artistic Director Jack McNamara said: “Sometimes writers approach  biographic material with a degree of reverence or objectivity. Not so with Astell and  Woolf! Shelagh has taken the overlooked figure of Mary Astell as a jumping oƯ point to  create something hilarious, truly original and packed with ideas. Its whip smart and  unashamedly entertaining, but also goes headlong into the darkness of its subject .I’d never  read quite anything like it. A kind of Endgame with feminists. The North East has a lot of  hidden radical roots, and this play marks our first foray into them, bringing them to the  surface to shed light on where we are today.”

Astell and Woolf plays at Live Theatre Thursday 14 May to Saturday 6 June 2026. tickets are available here.