Some Woman at the National Theatre

Women are told they can have it all… the children, a career and a life of their own. But Some Woman makes it clear that in reality, it is rarely that straightforward. Debuting at the National Theatre and written by acclaimed playwright Helen Edmundson (Small Island), Anne-Marie Duff leads this forthright and compelling story about a woman who is used to going unnoticed but is forced to pit herself against a world that is determined to silence her when an encounter on a station platform goes wrong.

The performance runs across 110 minutes with no interval and maintains a consistent tension that keeps audiences gripped and wondering what might happen next. Blanche McIntyre’s skilful direction packs a punch in this small period of time with a series of dramatic twists that saw theatregoers hunched over their seats in the rows ahead. It felt necessary for a story like this to be told in the modern day, at a time when women’s experiences can often feel like they’re still being minimised. There was something deeply inspiring about watching a woman finally choosing to stand up for herself – refusing to be ignored.

Duff was a stand-out, capturing the nuanced personality of single mother Julie Robson, who, despite being underestimated in almost every element of her life, carries a reluctant self-assuredness that sees her through making a striking decision that almost everyone around her encourages her to avoid. “This is a very long and dangerous way to prove a point,” Robson’s ex-husband tells her cautiously.

A moment towards the end of the production between Robson (Duff) and Mr Blake (Stephen Wight) was a highlight, hammering home the notion conveyed so poignantly by Edmundson that this society is a man’s world, and in situations shaped by gendered power imbalances, women feel they can only display control in the ways they know how to. Watching the play, there is a deep sense of familiarity women might find in Julie’s negotiation with herself, torn between what she wants and what is expected of her. Edmundson masterfully delivers a raw depiction of a woman who doubts herself but pushes forward regardless – it is this feeling one doesn’t often see conveyed on stage in such an open and honest way.

Five stars are not given lightly, but Some Woman earns them by turning the pressures and often painstaking reality of being a woman into a performance that is as witty as it is heartbreaking. It’s compelling, deeply affecting and leaves the audience grappling with the uncomfortable realities surrounding power, choice and the lasting impact when a woman refuses to be overlooked.

Sofia Webster
Photos: Ellie Kurttz

Some Woman is at the National Theatre from 7^th October until 21^st November 2026. For further information or to book, visit the theatre’s website here.

Watch the trailer for Some Woman at the National Theatre here: