We sat down with Georgina Coram about her exciting new show GWENDA’S GARAGE.
GWENDA’S GARAGE is a bold new British musical written by Nicky Hallett, with music by musician and composer Val Regan. An exuberant call to arms filled with humour, heart, and original songs, GWENDA’S GARAGE celebrates working-class women, lesbians, and the power of collective action.
1. The real Gwenda’s Garage in 1980s Sheffield was both a workplace and a community hub. How does the show sensitively tell a story based on real life and real people?
The writers of the show based all of the characters on an amalgamation of all the different stories and people who were around for the creation of the garage, meaning we have room to play with the characters, injecting them all with our own heart, nuance and theatre magic, where hopefully people in the audience can see a fraction of themselves represented.
2. You play Feona who’s new in town. How does she fit into the Gwenda’s Garage story?
Feona is a young art teacher who has relocated from Surrey to Sheffield. I think it’s fair to say she’s lived quite a sheltered life prior to her big move to the city of steel, which truly opens her eyes to the different trajectories women’s lives can take when they’re not thrust into a heteronormative environment. She also enables the mechanics to ‘tell the story’ as it were, allowing the audience that little bit of background information as they piece the puzzle together.
3. Gwenda’s Garage blends fun and feminism with activism and LGBTQ+ history. How does the show balance the political weight of Section 28 and Thatcher’s Britain alongside the joy and humour in the piece?
Gwenda’s Garage truly gives you a whistle stop tour of what it would have been like to be living as a Gay person in the political climate of the 80’s, something the younger generation may not have even considered. Sadly, many of the themes in the show are still very present in today’s society. The same rhetoric that was pushed during the passing of Section 28, is exactly what we are seeing today with the marginalisation of the Trans community. This show is not only an education in how to fight for your rights, but it’s a call to arms, that we are all stronger together – especially when we uplift each other and find the moments of joy and love.
4. As part of the queer community yourself, how does it feel to be part of the show and do this unsung queer story justice?
It feels incredibly special. As a queer woman working in theatre, it isn’t often that LGBTQIA+ story lines are written with such joy and so unapologetically. All of the characters in this show represent the different facets of what it means to be a gay woman, and that makes me incredibly proud.
5. Had you heard of the real Gwenda’s Garage before you were part of the show? Are there any other real queer stories which you’d like to shine a light on?
I hadn’t! But as soon as I saw the breakdown for the show go out, I knew I had to be involved. What’s really special about this piece is not only are the majority of the company LGBTQIA+, but the entirety of the creative team are too. So I would say, keep your eyes peeled for new queer writing – it’s happening all around you!
6. Do you have a favourite moment or lyric from the show?
My favourite lyric from the show is from our final song, We’ve got the power. ‘when circumstances drive you to it, roll your sleeves up you can do it!’ Empowering, electrifying and the perfect message to leave the show with!
7. You had a woman mechanic (taught by Roz) visit rehearsals. What’s the best thing you learned from them?
That I do not know a single thing about cars, and as a cast we needed a lot of practise on how to convincingly use a spanner. It was really interesting to hear Sarah talk about her experience working with so many men throughout her career as a mechanic and the expectation on her to work twice as hard and prove that she deserved the job even though she was a woman.
8. This story is rooted in Sheffield, yet it feels universal. What do you hope today’s audiences in London—especially younger queer audiences—will take away from these women’s fight for space and equality?
That we are always stronger when we are united. Patriarchy, gender stereotypes and bigotry are as present as ever. But the older generation of queer women have paved the way for us to live loudly and proudly, and we should continue to celebrate who we are by being strong and defiant, and uplifting each other.
Gwenda’s Garage comes to Southwark Playhouse Borough, 30 October – 29 November 2025. Catch the show now in Sheffield until Saturday October 25th. Tickets available at https://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/productions/gwendas-garage/