Set in a Catholic reformatory in 1914, What Every Girl Should Know begins with moans and groans of three young girls in some-what harmonious masturbation. Their white bedspreads move up and down as they attempt to find orgasm. Whilst a surprising start, it also shows the girl’s innocence of adolescenthood as they giggle and urge each other on.

Performing as part of Sydney Fringe Festival, What Every Girl Should Know is the second show for Cats in the Cupboard Productions. It follows their success with Secret Girl Stuff earlier this year, which will show at the Melbourne Fringe Festival. Cats in the Cupboard Productions focus on female driven stories, female characters and female truth.

Written by US playwright Monica Byrne What Every Girl Should Know is a coming of age story in a time of female suppression but despite the games of truth and dare, this is no teenage pyjama party.

When new girl Joan joins the school, initially the tight trio aren’t welcoming but then she shows them her contraband: Family Limitation pamphlets from woman’s rights activist and founder of the modern birth control movement Margaret Sanger. As their minds open to the possibility of female liberation, their friendship is formed. The girls share personal stories and we learn of their past traumas, years of sexual abuse that resulted in them being placed in the reformatory, blamed for their “sexual irregularities”.

What Every Girl Should Know requires demanding and courageous performances from the actresses, who are on stage for an hour and a half, with no intermission. Each delivers, showing depth in her performance. Tough girl Joan, played by Alice Mahony is defiant and passionate. Katelin Divall is little wide-eyed Lucy, desperate to live in her fantasy world and stay naive to the abuse of power around her. Producer Mikaela Corrigan, also performs the role of strong-willed Theresa who acts as the ‘mother’ to the group. Mia McMenanmin as fiery Anne is impressive as she lets out her repressed emotions, screaming ‘not your own sister’ over and over. It’s moments like this you realise some stories don’t need to be shared to know there was pain.

“I want women to feel gratitude for the females in their lives and the ones who have gotten them to where they are today.”

Mikaela Corrigan

The simple set design is a uniform dorm room of single beds, each with a religious image over the bed. Above the stage hover wire coat hangers, symbolic of the historical systemic abuse of children in the catholic church and the many girls who suffered botched abortions.

Skillfully directed by Nicholas Pavan, Cats in the Cupboard doesn’t shy away from hard hitting drama. The confronting play is a reminder that women have a say in this world and should be continuously educated about their sexual rights and reproductive rights. It’s a human right to say what goes on with your body. All of which are just as prevalent in our society today as they were in 1914. 

4.5 stars.

Playing at Flight Path Theatre until 28 September 2024. For more information visit Cats in the Cupboard