This collection is a revelation. It brings a new awareness of the full range of Sowerby's playwriting, including her groundbreaking play Rutherford and Son and two others that few will have encountered. Through J. Ellen Gainor's skillful editing and expertise, the book also shows what riches can emerge when theatre scholars join forces with theatre makers to recover 'neglected' plays and illuminate their continued relevance to our own times. Here is an outstanding example of the vital role of performance in the recovery of 'lost' play texts. - Kirsten E. Shepherd-Barr, University of Oxford
This edition of Githa Sowerby's plays is a fantastic opportunity for students, researchers, and the general reader to engage with the work of this important but underrated Edwardian playwright. With its inclusion of introductory and critical editorials for each of the plays and an extensive range of original review materials, this rich volume provides an exemplary model. Once again, Broadview has commissioned an excellent edition that both brings to life the work of a marginalized playwright and will stand the tests of time. - Maggie B. Gale, University of Manchester
Although they were recognized in their day for their adroit craft and social acuity, until recent successful revivals, Githa Sowerby's plays remained largely neglected. In this carefully curated edition of three of her more enduring works, J. Ellen Gainor deftly guides the reader through their contexts and critical reception. Sowerby should be regarded as a modern political dramatist of the first order, and in making these plays available for a wide readership, Gainor recuperates an important figure for feminist and theatre histories. - Brad Kent, Laval University