A Room Of One’s Own – Rebecca Vaughan

Review by Emily.

“A dancing poodle’s chance!”

Perceptive and relevant, Rebecca Vaughan’s one-woman show captivatingly displayed the necessity of wealth, space and material comforts in facilitating freedoms to write – and to escape the patriarchal representations of women in 1920s literature and society. Gripping the predominantly female audience by using the metaphor of Shakespeare’s sister – named only once as Judith, an equal intellect and talent – Vaughn outlined the oppression of women in 1928, and how they parallel with contemporary restrictions many of the audience may have experienced. The humorous flavour of the piece did little to distract from the poignance of the message, which still resonates a hundred years later.

Vaughan’s piece explored different environments in which women were actively discouraged and discriminated against. The performance drew specific attention to the repeated quote of ‘a dancing poodles’ chance’. For me, the quote summarised the depth of the message of the performance by depicting the patriarchal structure which women in literature had to break, whilst simultaneously representing where prejudices in society today derive from.

The neoclassical architecture complemented the stage which was positioned under the light cascading through the vast window, offering the perfect backdrop for a powerful piece, transporting the audience visually into 1920s Britain. Few props were needed to enhance the performance as the audience hung onto Vaughan’s every word, processing the shocking reality of being a woman daring to think outside of conformity in nurturing a family in 1920s Britain.

“Vaughan managed to reinvent herself in an equally admirable way.”

The setting allowed the audience to become immersed in the story of key female literature figures, including Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte and Aphra Behn, giving insight into the barriers they dismantled to earn their own living through writing. The importance of money in attaining freedom and opportunity presided over Vaughn’s performance. The production then provided the perfect celebration of female literature, as Rebecca Vaughan outstandingly delivered Virginia Woolf’s 1929 insightful essay.

My initial introduction to Rebecca Vaughan’s talent was a year prior. I sat with the same view, developing an understanding of another influential female figure: Queen Elizabeth. With so many parallels, including language and venue, Vaughan managed to reinvent herself in an equally admirable way. It was indeed an education, paired with a comedic flair, manifesting itself as dramatic irony.

Suppose Virginia Woolf could see the progression of women today. From the likes of Enid Blyton to JK Rowling or Margaret Attwood, would it match her projections of female emancipation in literature and society? Or would she be disappointed in how relevant ‘A Room of One’s Own’ remains just 6 years short of a century later? That’s the question that Rebecca Vaughan’s performance evoked in me as I left the intimate venue of St Mary’s amongst the collection of women, who I hoped would be asking themselves a similar question.

Learn more about Dyad Productions and Rebecca Vaughan