‘Not all heroines have to change the world’

Actress Tamsin Greig praised the heroism of the average ordinary woman as she took the Royal Court’s hit play Jumpy to the West End.

Greig, 46, known for shows including Episodes and Black Books as well as playing Debbie Aldridge in Radio 4’s The Archers, said that what she loved about her character Hilary, a former Greenham Common protester turned anxious mum, is that she is no wonderwoman.

“It’s the story of an ordinary woman, someone who hasn’t changed the world, all she really wants to do is support people,” said the actress, who has three children, at the opening night party at the Mint Leaf restaurant.

“She has brought one daughter into the world and she teaches people to read. In others’ eyes that is sort of negligible. But it’s a very bold achievement. I felt the writer April De Angelis was seeking to honour that.”

In contrast, Hilary’s friend Frances, played by Doon Mackichan, has become a vampish man-eater in middle age and even develops an excruciating burlesque dance routine.

Mackichan said: “She sees it as antidote to the pornographication of women. But for me, as a feminist, when I went to see burlesque, I was depressed by them having to end up with nipple tassels when they were brilliant performers.”

The Smack the Pony star, who has just turned 50, spent three weeks developing the routine. She hoped that it would make men and women laugh but also show what a “desperate” character Frances was.

Mackichan, who protested at Greenham Common, said there were now ways of fighting the feminist cause that did not involve going on marches — with Jumpy itself playing a part.

“You never see women of a certain age talking about the menopause on stage,” she said. “But I would hope that men would find this play moving and not just go, ‘It’s a women’s play’.”