Play honours Lucas Girls

THE story of the Lucas Girls banding together through adversity will be told in a play at the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute next week.

Cate Whittaker’s The Amazing Lucas Girls is coming straight from its season at The Sydney Theatre Company, Wharf 2 and is based on the true events of the Ballarat Lucas Factory girls.

“The Amazing Lucas Girls is a beautiful story of women courageously and caringly banding together in adversity,” Whittaker said.

“Audiences in Sydney have raved about it, knowing nothing of the story and have been moved and inspired by its selfless commitment to healing and saving a community.”

The play centres around Tilly Thompson, who organised the planting of a tree in recognition of each serviceman and woman, and her younger sister Clara who led the fight against conscription.

“When the British war is hungry for more men and a conscription referendum is called, the Lucas Girls under Clara’s courageous leadership march with Vida Goldstein’s peace army. Facing jail and vicious personal attacks, they defeat conscription twice to save thousands of men’s lives,” Whittaker said.

“But it’s Clara’s older sister Tilly’s compassion for her distraught, disintegrating town that directs the factory girls into raising thousands of pounds to buy saplings and then to plant a tree to recognise the bravery of every man and woman serving.”

Whittaker said she was inspired to write the play to highlight women’s important role in history.

“Too often sadly our history is focused on great political events not the catastrophic social consequences they cause,” she said.

“Yet it is women who most suffer in these social disasters and most shine in their courage to overcome them.

“Women need to know their worth by finding their important place in these stories.”

The Amazing Lucas Girls will be on Friday 9 May and Saturday 10 May. To purchase a ticket, visit the BMI website.