This shows Deb Trethewey, Tash Fairbanks, Jane Boston, Hilary Ramsden and Jude Winter with a friend, Susy Taylor in foreground of photo.
Throughout Siren’s tours, they stayed at friend’s homes (or their parents) as we were not funded and could not afford B&Bs. This often meant sleeping in our sleeping bags on the floor.
A scanned image set of the Siren Theatre Company 1982 vinyl record and sleeve 'Siren Plays', released by 'Stroppy Cow records’. It shows a list of the inner sleeve with the lyrics of 10 songs composed by various members of Siren and performed by Siren. It also shows photographs of Siren on the back cover, namely Jane Boston guitar, Jude Winter keyboards, Debra Trethewey drums and Tasha Fairbanks saxophone.
This was Siren’s first time in a professional studio. Being penniless, as usual, Siren cut the cost by doing the half price all-night sessions. Memories of a lot of coffee and biscuits, being shaken awake every few hours to stagger over to an instrument and try to remember which song you were supposed to be recording. The album sold at Vinyl Demand, Odd Volume, Subway Records and at the Women’s Centre.
This shows the programme from the play ‘Curfew’. The front cover is a drawing of a women kicking out in self-defence. It gives a description of the play and a background of Siren. The play was directed by Pippa Gladhill. The programme acknowledges the poem (used in part) by Ntozake Shange “With No Immediate Cause’.
The cover of the programme was created by Wendy Thompson. The image was also the poster for the play.
The image of the women kicking out was taken from a photo and an article in the Brighton Argus about ‘Tiger Tash’ who taught women self-defence. The ’Tash’ referred to was Siren’s Tasha Fairbanks. The play was set in a lesbian club and explored themes of male violence against women.
A digital reproduction of the flyer (front & back) advertising Siren’s play ‘Now Wash Your Hands Please’. The play opened at the Nightingale Theatre in Brighton, and was directed by Sue Saunders.
Siren was joined by a new company member, Hilary Ramsden, for this play and for future Siren plays. Jane Boston did not perform in this play.
This is one of a number of posters used to promote Siren’s play ‘Mama’s Gone A’Hunting’. It is created in the form of an urgent telegram outlining the plot of the show, stating that woman intends leaving for a new planet without man.
The digitally produced poster was felt to be a ‘new’ form of photography at the time that it was on the high street, predating all the digitisation of photos that are now done on one’s own devices. Siren felt it reflected the futuristic content of the play.
This shows the programme cover of the pay Pulp. The programme shows a number of adverts, including from prominent lesbian organisations, such as Rackets, Dimples and Lesbian Line, as well as feminist companies such as Silver Moon bookshop Women’s Press. Nalgo (National and Local Government Officers Union) took out a full page advert supporting lesbian and gay rights. The programme promotes Siren’s cabaret show ‘Chic to Chic”, as well as their cassette ‘Siren in Queer Street’ and vinyl record ‘Siren Plays’. Page 4 & page 8 have the lyrics of seven sounds from Pulp, which were written by Jane Boston, and performed live by Siren. Page 5 has the Company Policy and a description of the play ‘Pulp’. It also shows some excerpts from reviews of previous plays. The play was directed and choreographed by Noelle Janaczewska. The artwork and layout of the programme was by Jenny Millington.
This image set depicts the cover, front and back, and cassette tape of Siren’s music release ‘Siren in Queerstreet’. It shows a list of the 13 tracks on the cassette, which included songs from some of the plays as well as songs composed by various members of Siren, and performed by Siren band. The tape was recorded at Newhaven Boys’ Club and at Real Time Studio Billingshurst. Cover photo by Susy Taylor.
This cassette was a mixture of home recording done by Deb Trethewey on a two track Sony reel-to-reel tape recorder, as well as some professionally recorded tracks at recording studios.
This black and white photo shows Jane Boston, Jude Winter, Tash Fairbanks and Deb Trethewey checking the map before heading off somewhere for a performance.
This photo was taken in front of Siren’s ancient touring van. On one tour, Siren went from venue to venue on the back of an AA van, due to constant breakdown problems with the vehicle.
Two reviews about the play ‘Curfew’ when it opened at the Oval House Theatre, London. The review at the top of the image is from 'Spare Rib', published in March 1982. It features a photo of Jane Boston as Calamity Jane. The review at the bottom of the photo is from 'The Stage', published in February 1982.
This shows a letter of appreciation written after Siren had performed ‘Mama’s Gone A’Hunting’ at Boundstone School. The letter highlights that pupils staff and friends were impressed by the …’stimulating thought provoking performance'.
This is a review of two plays, 'Mama’s Gone A’Hunting' and 'Curfew', which were performed on two consecutive nights in St Ives at The Parish Rooms.
As well as commenting on the performers acting ability, the review highlighted the lighting of both plays, as being harsh and beautiful.