Describe Spitfire Sisters in three words.
Daredevils, Dedicated, Wild.
What inspired you to tell the untold stories of the heroines in the ATA during World War II?
Research! These were astounding women who never received the credit they deserved and they are the only women to achieve equal pay in all of British history . . . sadly, still true today.
Each character is so unique and brings her own story to the table. How did you come up with these characters and their stories?
We read! We researched! And then we used our imaginations! It was fun!
What do you love most about them?
All of the brazen, caring, lovely women. But my favourite: I love Jackie (real name Cochran) Hawkins! Almost illiterate, but fought her way out of Southern American poverty and stereotypes, broke the sound barrier twice over male counterpart, friends with three presidents, first woman to cross the Atlantic in a bomber gift plane to Churchill, married a billionaire and loved to tell about it. She was anything but modest. I cried at the end of both of her biographies when she died. She’s my southern, in-your- face, brash soul mate. God, How I would have loved to have known her (I suppose I do actually). She constantly made me laugh while I was writing her dialogue. Thanks for asking this.
Some of the feminist themes throughout the play are still relevant today – such as the women fighting for equal play with their male counterparts. Does this give you hope or make you despair?
The latter. 🙁
What do you want the audience to take away from this show?
Joy and the knowledge all women can achieve their goals if gutsy enough.
Any advice for emerging playwrights?
Keep writing and don’t let the rejections get you down. Every time I get one, I say, “Your loss and I’m sending out two more!”
