As the Jeffrey Epstein story dominated headlines earlier this year, a group of female playwrights decided to refocus the narrative. They felt the media was too centered on the perpetrators and their money, neglecting the victims. Rebecca Lenkiewicz, screenwriter of She Said, sparked the idea in a WhatsApp group, asking: 'Is anyone else enraged about the Epstein files and how it’s all about the men and the money?'
From WhatsApp to the Stage
Forty-five writers responded initially, and the project quickly escalated. Three months later, over 80 female and non-binary writers have contributed to All the Rage, a theatrical spectacle premiering in a repurposed office block in the City of London. The play unfolds across 15 spaces, blending art, activism, and anger.
Guerrilla Theatre Meets Activism
Director Lucy Morrison describes the production as 'guerrilla theatre, where art meets activism.' With a week to go, final texts are still arriving. The work is divided into two parts: an immersive walk-through with installations and text, followed by a 50-minute collective theatre piece performed by nine actors. Writers double as publicists and stage managers, fostering a democratic, non-hierarchical process.
Voices from the Play
Contributors include Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti, known for her controversial play Behzti, which was cancelled after protests. Her scene draws from a 1970s Indian film, exploring micro-objectifications in daily life. Timberlake Wertenbaker, author of Our Country's Good, frames her contribution as a question, emphasizing the importance of doubt and questioning in theatre. She notes that feminist gains from the 1970s and 80s are being erased, and points to the Iranian women's uprising as a moment of hope overshadowed by war.
Universal Themes
The play connects Epstein's crimes to everyday experiences of women worldwide. Lenkiewicz says, 'We’ve all had something happen to either a friend, ourselves or our family. It’s not like it’s a foreign subject.' The goal is to transform rage into something beautiful and profound, not just to protest.
All the Rage runs at Theatre Deli, London, from 11-13 June. It includes Lucy Kirkwood's Maryland, a rapid-response play about the murders of Sarah Everard and Sabina Nessa, to emphasize that such abuses are not outliers.
