Ellen Leslie
Inspired by true stories from strong women, The Girls Who Made Us is a beautiful play that celebrates the triumphs and setbacks of one woman’s life. After their beloved Auntie Jane passed away, five girls are cleaning out her attic when they find a box of memories addressed to them. After some debate, they open it, and discover that it contains memories of how Jane met all their mums. It is a heart-warming exploration of issues affecting women, and the importance of strong friendships.
It’s confusing to keep track of all the girls’ names, as well as their mums’ names, but their stories are interesting, revealing little snippets of Jane’s life. Their stories discuss many topics that affect women, such as sneaking out to the pub to flirt with older men, to reconnecting with old friends and asking for support. The most compelling by far are discussions surrounding family life and fertility. While Athena struggles with the feeling that she’s lost her identity now that she’s a mum, Jane has recently found out she can’t have children. This could easily become a source of contention for the women, but instead, the characters show empathy for each other, fitting nicely with the show’s messages of understanding and found family.
These memories from the past are intertwined with the present day. There is good rapport between the girls, and they bicker and giggle as they clear out the attic. It would be nice to learn more about them, as we don’t really get a sense of who they are. The focus of the show is how their mums met Jane, but their characters could be fleshed out more through the dialogue between the flashbacks.
There are great performances from each of the actresses. They handle the multi-rolling well, effectively portraying the different relationships Jane had with all the women. The sound balance can be improved; at times it is hard to hear the actresses when music is played. This wasn’t helped by outside noise bleeding into the theatre, which did slightly detract from the play’s more emotional moments.
A sweet storyline with a heartfelt message to look after each other, The Girls Who Made Us is a touching show that explores the power of female friendships. It is an excellent debut from Inherits her Flame Theatre Company that highlights the importance of keeping both good and bad memories alive.
Recommended Drink: your favourite, drunk with friends at the pub; it’s a vital meeting point for both generations of women in the show!
Performances of The Girls Who Made Us have now concluded at EdFringe 2026.
Eve Miller
Lubna Kerr
