Theatre / Strong is the New Pretty, written by Suzie Miller. At The Playhouse, until October 3. Reviewed by SAMARA PURNELL.

Today is AFL Grand Final day, articles suggesting Canberra be the permanent home of GWS given the sell-out crowds they consistently get at Manuka Oval have been making news this week. The North Melbourne women’s team just lost their first game in over two years.

The stage is primed and ready for the first bounce of the touring production of RGB playwright Suzie Miller’s Strong is the New Pretty, directed by Sarah Giles.

A spotlight shines on a Sherrin (AFL ball) and a young girl’s pleas are heard: “Kick it to meeeee!”

Strong is the New Pretty follows the journey of a handful of women who pioneered the creation of the AFLW (the women’s league), which came to fruition in 2017, and at the same time it honours its history and champions future girls and women who have and will contribute to and play this game of Aussie Rules.

Amber McMahon finally gets her chance to coach a professional team. Her character represents Bec Goddard OAM, a born and bred Canberra woman. Although names have been changed, the key details of the characters are kept fairly accurate.

The role has enough grit, enough gravitas and enough comedy to get stuck into. In a wardrobe perfectly combining her previous job in the Federal Police, with her coaching role, McMahon sinks her teeth into the physicality of the role, finding a balance of compassion, toughness and mettle to tackle this dream appointment.

Lucy Bell as a lawyer, finally manages to wear suit pants in court (in the 90s!) via a sexist loophole in the dress code. She will soon become the first female commissioner of the AFL. Sam Mostyn, the incumbent Governor General, was that commissioner.

Strong is the New Pretty uses physical theatre, humour and a dose of melodrama to tell the story of these women and a handful of those depicted in the inaugural Adelaide Crows team. Some of the women involved in this field have already been inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame. There is nothing nuanced or subtle about this raucous production, a pivot from Miller’s previous work. It leans into the broad Aussie accents and the uniqueness of the game – “Like sunburn and meat pies”.

The setting is minimal but props are used sparingly and effectively, including a Sherrin on a pole that is passed and kicked in slow-motion between the players. One counter-intuitive addition was a celebratory appearance of a Sherrin dancing in stockinged legs and heels.

The small ensemble is utilised to create a montage of characters, mostly disapproving or chauvinist men. They mutter snippets of conversation in a line-up, and move in a Bob Fosse-esque manner, using sound effects of hisses, clicks, breath, grunts and chortles. This creates a meter and rhythm, a pulse, throughout the production. Adele songs and Black Betty also have their moments in celebratory dances. The physical depiction of the first draft pick was very cleverly done.

Strong is the New Pretty clearly makes the point of the sacrifices, determination, multitasking and risk these women took and continue to take, aided by a group of men who shared their ambition. It took a metaphorical village to convince, to actualise, to achieve the AFLW, with so much riding on every decision and step. Where failure was not an option and so much more was at stake than in any men’s games.

Actual issues that don’t come into the men’s competition are tackled. An Adele concert derailed the first AFLW Grand Final, destroying the turf. The iconic Tayla Harris kick was recreated brilliantly here. The visual depiction of the vile commentary and fall-out on social media following it still creates a visceral and emotional response. The flippant, sexist commentary scattered throughout the play keeps the tone and unease of the cultural setting these women have often found themselves in suitably present. Harris now has a statue of THAT kick in Fed Square in Melbourne.

Strong is the New Pretty is a physical, energetic and entertaining night of theatre, presented in chapters from The Dream (2005) through to the 2017 official creation of the AFLW.  The marathon of childbirth is synonymous with the effort these women have put into launching their careers in AFLW – the literal blood, sweat and tears. It celebrates the trailblazers and visionaries for “The game they play in heaven.”

As the stadium lighting goes out on stage, the sound of young girls happily playing AFL and yelling “Kick it to me!” is heard. And now, thanks to women like the ones in Strong is the New Pretty, they will.

New footy play celebrates great Aussie female grit

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