June 24th 2024.
It's been almost four decades since Willy Russell penned the iconic monologue, Shirley Valentine, which tells the story of a middle-aged, working class housewife from Liverpool and her transformative solo trip to Greece. As Sally Reid prepares to reprise her role as Shirley at Pitlochry Festival Theatre, she reflects on how the story still resonates with audiences today.
Last time Reid took on the role, nearly two years ago, she received high praise and even won an Outstanding Performance award for her portrayal. However, a lot has changed for Reid since then. "It's always exciting to revisit something that was so well-received the first time around and had such an impact on people," Reid shares. "But this time, I have a different perspective on certain aspects of the story."
Now older than Shirley's character in the play, Reid finds herself connecting with different parts of the character and delving deeper into her emotions. "Time moves on and we evolve, so it's only natural to have a different take on it the second time around," she explains. "The story is all about growth and change, and that's exactly what's happening in life too."
As Reid rereads the script, she finds herself laughing at parts she didn't find funny before and taking away new insights. "When you're creating something for the first time, there's always a bit of pre-show stress and nerves about getting it right and wondering if people will enjoy it," she says. "But now, I feel more relaxed because we already know it works."
Known for her deadpan humor as PC Sarah Fletcher on the hit show Scot Squad, Reid brings a unique wit to her portrayal of Shirley. "With Shirley, you're approaching comedy from a different angle, and Willy Russell's writing allows for that," she explains. "She's not telling jokes in a traditional sense, but she has a sharp wit that makes us all laugh. She's funny and has a natural comedic instinct, and I find that fascinating."
Although it's been over 30 years since the play was first written, the themes and ideas behind the story still feel familiar to many people. "It's all about life, and we can all relate to that," Reid notes. "It's about reinventing yourself or rediscovering your true self, because that's all we have."
Reid recalls how after the last shows, women would approach her and say they felt like Shirley, that her story was their story. "It's remarkable that a play written almost 40 years ago can still have such a profound impact on people," she says. "But at the same time, it's a period piece. Back then, at 42, Shirley felt like her life was over and she was middle-aged. But now, we have a different perspective on middle age and what it means."
According to Reid, many women still feel pressured to conform to societal expectations, and she believes this is one of the reasons why the play continues to resonate with audiences. "We have come a long way, but there's still a long way to go in terms of breaking away from traditional norms and expectations," she says. "But with more options available to us now, who knows where we could go in the next 40 years?"
The Pitlochry Festival Theatre production of Shirley Valentine will run from July 4th to September 28th. To stay updated on more culture stories, visit our website. And don't forget to subscribe to the latest issue of Scottish Field.
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