The Immortal Sisterhood LIVE is an ambitious and visually striking production. Its performances have a strong sense of style and intention, combining dance, singing, live music and poetry in an attempt to create an immersive exploration of historical women and their stories.
Written and narrated by Gemma Cairney, author of The Immortal Sisterhood, the production is guided by her distinctive personal voice. Her narration provides a personal thread through the performance; however, the piece relies heavily on names displayed on a screen behind the performers. The limited historical background and emotional detail made it difficult to understand who these figures were, why they mattered and how their stories connected.
The names on screen suggested the importance of the women being represented, but without brief introductions, quotations or further details from their lives, they felt more like references than fully developed stories. This made it difficult to understand the emotional significance of their inclusion or to form a deeper connection with them. I was left feeling that something was missing to bridge the gap between the production’s intentions and the audience’s experience.
The performance had an episodic structure, with each section presenting a different combination of music, movement and spoken word. This created variety and allowed the performers to explore the material in imaginative ways, but the transitions sometimes felt more atmospheric than narrative-driven. As an audience member, I often felt positioned as an observer rather than emotionally drawn into the stories.
The live violin, cello and vocal performances were among the show’s highlights. The singing was enjoyable, while the movement was expressive and, in places, visually compelling and thoughtfully choreographed. The DJ and lighting helped tie the different elements together, giving the production a polished and professionally executed feel while shifting the tone and focus of each act.
The performances from Guiffo, Tateai, Jones, Seales and Broomes were committed and brought a contemporary energy to the stage. They moved between the musical and physical elements with ease, and their energy helped maintain the momentum of the programme. There was a clear ambition to make the stories feel more immersive than a straightforward narration, although the performances were not always supported by enough context to create a deeper emotional investment.
As an adaptation of Cairney’s book, the production translates its themes through sound, movement and image rather than relying solely on spoken explanation. This gives it an original theatrical identity, but some of the book’s context appears to have been lost in the transition to the stage. The production seems to prioritise mood, symbolism and artistic interpretation over a clear narrative. This may work for audiences already familiar with the book, but those coming to the performance without that background may find it more difficult to engage with the material.
Ultimately, The Immortal Sisterhood LIVE has an intriguing premise, strong musical elements and engaging movement. As a contemporary performance, I could see what it was trying to achieve, but it did not quite land for me. The production sometimes felt more focused on presenting its concept than making it accessible to the audience. More historical context, explanation and emotional storytelling would have made the exploration of these figures feel more purposeful and resonant. It may have benefited from less indulgence and more context to make its message clearly heard.
NEED TO KNOW: The Immortal Sisterhood -Live was at the British Library Sat 19 Sep 2026 and the tour heads to Manchester, Margate, Berlin and Lisbon.
