Sheffield Theatres have announced casting for the world premiere production of The Ladies Football Club by Stefano Massini and adapted by Tim Firth. The production is directed by Sheffield Theatres’ Artistic Director Elizabeth Newman with movement by Frantic Assembly’s Scott Graham. With its roots firmly set in Sheffield, this new play is a universal story brough to life by some of the leading forces in contemporary theatre.
Joining Massini, Firth, Newman and Graham in the creative team are: Designer Grace Smart; Lighting Designer Ben Jacobs; Sound Designer Ella Wahlström; Video Designer Joe Ransom; Composers Ella Wahlström, Tim Firth and Steve Parry; Casting Director Juliet Horsley; Associate Director Ben Occhipinti; Associate Sound Designer Pierre Flasse; Assistant Director Flo Gill; and Additional Musical Arrangements and Recording from Steve Parry.
Joining the cast are: Jessica Baglow as Rosalyn; Leah Brotherhead as Hayley; Lesley Hart as Berenice; Ellie Leach as Brianna; Clair Norris as Melanie; Anne Odeke as Justine; Krupa Pattani as Cheryl; Cara Theobold as Violet; Chanel Waddock as Penelope; and Charley Webb as Abigail. Joy Adeogun and Jamie Randall complete the company as Swings.
With World War One forcing men onto the front line to fight, the women of Sheffield take their place in the factories, constructing the bombs and the bullets.
When they start kicking a football around on their lunch breaks, it soon becomes clear that it’s not just positions on a factory floor these women can fill; it’s on the football pitch too. Finding unexpected strength through their new passion and teamwork they end up playing to crowds of over fifty thousand, all the time unaware something is looming that will blow the whistle on their beautiful game.
The Ladies Football Club runs at the Crucible Theatre from 28 February 2026 until 28 March 2026, with tickets on sale now.