Maud had asked me to pass on the following:
To the Esteemed Patrons of the Bluestocking Pub,
I hardly know where to begin.
To think that so many of you travelled all the way to Darlington — by train, by car, by bus, by winged companion and in one case through the handily supplied portal door— just to witness the opening night of Health and Safety: The Musical… well, it’s enough to make a gerbil weep into her clipboard. Your presence in the audience, your laughter, your triangle-shaped applause — it meant the world to all of us.
I must confess, I spent most of the night backstage clutching a fire extinguisher and muttering about ladder placement. But when the curtain fell and Little Gubbins struck her final triangle note, I knew something magical had happened. And now, having read the early newspaper write-ups, I’m utterly blown away.
Here are just a few snippets that have left me speechless (and that’s saying something):
- “Fantastic directing by first-time director Maud” — The Telegraph
- “A sublime evening of mishap, humour, and jazz hands” — The Daily Mail
- “A triumph of communal farce and emotional precision” — The Guardian
- “Gerbil-led theatre is having a moment, and Bluestocking leads the charge” — The Times Literary Supplement
- “A health and safety musical that manages to be both riotous and tender — who knew?” — The Observer
- “Maud’s direction balances chaos and care with astonishing grace” — The New Statesman
I’m not sure how to process all this. I’ve already had to sit down twice and reapply my eyebrow pencil. But I do know this: none of it would have happened without your support, your belief in gerbil-led theatre, and your willingness to embrace a musical where PPE is the punchline and the promise.
From all of us at the Bluestocking Gerbils — thank you. You are part of our story now, and we hope you’ll join us again for whatever comes next (early whispers include The Ladder Monologues and A Risk Assessment Carol, but nothing’s confirmed).
Yours in chaos and gratitude,
Maud
Director, Bluestocking Gerbils Theatre Group