The Invincibles - by Amanda Whittington (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

1917: World War One is raging in Europe. In Britain, Sterling Ladies - known as the Dagenham Invincibles - are playing to win. For two whirlwind seasons, they never lose a game. Yet once peace is restored, the factory girls must hang up their boots and see triumph fade into obscurity.

2023: Injured footballer Maya follows England's progress through the Women's World Cup. The world has changed, yet the roar of the Lionesses echoes the Invincibles' war-cry. Watching at home, Maya fears she'll never play again - but as she loses herself in the present, she hears the call of the past and finds fresh hope for the future.

Amanda Whittington's play The Invincibles celebrates two generations of inspirational women, and their adventures on the football pitch a century apart. It premiered at Queen's Theatre Hornchurch in 2023, and offers rich opportunities for other theatre companies looking to score a hit with their audiences.

Review Quotes

"A feisty football drama that lends perspective to the rise of women's football... packed with light and shade... The beauty of Whittington's play is that it allows the human stories to flourish behind the football history lesson."--The Stage

"Heartwarming and skillful... a touching story of sporting brilliance against the odds... eye opening and exciting."--Everything Theatre

"Entertaining and informative, with lots of heart."--British Theatre Guide

About the Author

Amanda Whittington is one of the most widely performed playwrights in the UK. Her plays include Be My Baby (Soho Theatre, 1998), Satin 'n' Steel (Nottingham Playhouse, 2005), Ladies' Day (Hull Truck, 2005) and its sequels Ladies Down Under (Hull Truck, 2007) and Ladies Unleashed (Hull Truck, 2022), The Thrill of Love (New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, 2013), Kiss Me Quickstep (New Vic Theatre, 2016), Mighty Atoms (Hull Truck, 2017) and The Invincibles (Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch, 2023).

She has adapted Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, My Judy Garland Life and Tipping the Velvet for the stage. She writes regularly for BBC Radio 4, contributing to the Woman's Hour serial and Afternoon Play slots.

Her stage plays have also become a popular choice for amateur, community and school productions across the country.