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.
Digital reproduction of the cover of Spare Rib, and the review of Siren’s show ‘From the Divine’.
The reviewer, Liz Horsfield, writes that Lily is far more interested in Ruby [or}“is it me being a lesbian that makes me think so?” No matter how ‘out’ Siren was as a company, it perhaps wasn’t always obvious to the audience or reviewers.
The play opened at the Drill Hall in London for 2 weeks in 1985 and was sold out every night. It returned to the Drill Hall in January 1986,.
Manny describes Pulp as "a feminist play par excellence, brilliantly acted, refreshing, hilariously entertaining".
This shows a two-page letter from a young lesbian about to take her A-levels after seeing the play ‘Pulp’. This poignant letter reveals how hard it was to be identified as a lesbian at this time.
This shows a letter written after the play ‘Now Wash Your Hands Please’ to South East Regional Arts Association, asking for support and recognition for Siren to enable them to reach wider audiences.
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.
This shows a preview of “From the Divine’ which was performed at The Millfield House Arts Centre in Edmonton, London.
Ticket prices were shown as £1.75 full price or £1.15 concessionary fare.
The preview has an interview with Jane Boston who played Magda.
Salvadori describes the play as "a homage to Fifties B-movies with ladykillers, Mafia plots, and McCarthy conspiracies. But it's also a parody, poking fun at the femme fatale image and the clean cut freshness of stars like Doris Day."
The review was written after a performance at the Old Bull Centre, Barnet. The article is headlined "Wickedly Clever", and Leeb describes Siren Theatre Company as a "committed, courageous, refreshingly honest, and highly versatile trio".
The review was written after a performance at Hoxton Hall, London. The writer has endless praise for Siren, concluding that "the show exemplifies female humour as its sharpest - acidic and biting enough to be felt, but never allowed to become cynical or had-bitten. As a group, Siren are a lively and seemingly endless source of talent, completely self-contained as actresses, singers, writers and musicians."