We open with a song performed by Pearl (Lucia Ireland, who btw has an exceptional voice), setting the tone and introducing us to the world of Happy Ending Street – a brothel in 1890s Edinburgh where we find the women within it on edge. A killer is on the loose, one they later name the ‘hen catcher’ and the lasses begin by frantically praying for their lives. 

Bonnie (Jenna Stones) and Frances (Breagha Sturrock) soon join Pearl, bringing with them a heightened sense of fear but a determination to track down the killer before he strikes again. The three talk hurriedly about their next move, interacting in a natural and compelling way – their growing urgency giving us a clear sense that time could be running out. Moments of humour peppered throughout provide needed respite from the escalating threat, with a particularly funny moment where Pearl and Bonnie can’t resist roasting Frances about a less than flattering portrait one of her clients has painted of her. They also make good use of the immersive style space at Leith Arches – leaning over stair railings, projecting their voices and using exaggerated physicality to bring the action to every corner of the venue. It’s an effective approach to keep us visually and emotionally engaged.

I found myself wanting more exposition around how these characters ended up at Happy Ending Street, especially a deeper exploration of the history of their powerful bond, shared experiences and their desire to challenge a system that seeks to silence and suppress them. I loved their collective energy and the empowerment they offer each other – I felt like I wanted to know more about their journey to arrive at this point, especially given the historical context of their environment. The characters also address the audience directly at various points and while this choice creates real intimacy and a sense of collaboration, it left me unsure of our role – are we clients? Fellow sex workers? Silent spectators? Giving the audience a defined position within the world of Happy Ending Street could add more clarity to the story as a whole. I really love the idea of the audience being more involved but that’s just my take!

Structurally, the show pretty much plays out as one continuous scene. While that gives the piece intensity, breaking up the action with additional musical numbers (especially given how powerful the brief moments of song felt) could offer more shape. For me, the musical elements were a really memorable highlight and in my opinion, there’s great potential for this to evolve into a full musical. It could take the production to an exciting new level. 

HAPPY ENDING STREET is produced by DollsnRags Productions, a new feminist theatre company dedicated to championing the underrepresented stories of women throughout history. Catch it until 9th August at Leith Arches. Tickets available here!