7.27°C Theatre and Football Join Forces as The Invincibles Meet Colchester United Women’s Team
In a historic meeting, members of the cast of The Invincibles met the Colchester United Women football team following their latest match.
The Invincibles tells the story of the Sterling Ladies football team, who were formed and played during World War One, 1917-19. They became known as the Dagenham Invincibles, and their story was almost forgotten until playwright Amanda Whittington discovered their history.
To show how influential these Original Lionesses are, the play also features Maya, an academy-level football player, watching the 2023 Women’s World Cup. She is injured and worried she may never play football again. She discovers the story of the Dagenham Invincibles and uncovers secrets about her mum and the house they live in.
As director, football is a relatively unknown world to me, and I’ve never directed a play that requires not just a movement director but also a football coach. It was a thrill for us to see the team in action, to follow their moves and soak up the atmosphere. The cast were very inspired, and we now have much material we can work into the football sequences in the play. It’s taken about 100 years, but the play shows the majestic influence these Original Lionesses brought to the game.
Tickets for The Invincibles at the Headgate Theatre from Wednesday 22nd April to Saturday 25th April 2026 are available now.
