A fourteen year old girl prepares to testify against her drunken stepfather. A lost woman is interred in an infamous asylum. An ambitious newcomer to New York searches for her big break.  A bright young woman takes offense to a sexist newspaper article. And an up and coming journalist pitches her most ambitious story yet.

THE MANY LIVES OF NELLIE BLY is a new one woman show that tells the outrageous true story of a pioneer of investigative journalism. Her exploits blazed a trail for ambitious women around the world and pushed boundaries nobody knew could be pushed.

Nellie Bly's work is scarcely believable. From going undercover in an asylum to expose the terrible conditions and prompt legal reform, to heading to the Western Front during World War Two, to racing Jules Verne's fictional Phileas Fogg around the world just to prove it could be done, everything Bly did should have been impossible. But, in her own words:

“I've always had the feeling that nothing is impossible is one applies a certain amount of energy in the right direction. If you want to do it, you can do it.”

This show blends intimate storytelling and rooted performance with an original cinematic score and clever multi-purpose staging and design. It explores ideas of ambition and fearlessness, and asks the question: who gets to decide who we are? Who gets to decide what we be?

Praise for Bedivere Arts Company

"Despite the production being small scale, the emotional breadth of the piece is suitably epic"  The Scotsman (Wrath of Achilles)

"A cracking yarn, confidently told"  London Pub Theatres  (Every Seven Years)

All tickets include a £1 transaction charge

Approx running time 1 hour

All purchases for show at the Alma now have a suggested donation to the theatre and inhouse company of £2.00

You can remove this donation by changing the amount to £0.00, but please do consider offering your generosity to help us continue to offer great theatre at affordable prices.

The Alma Theatre has been serving the community for 25 years and has never been the recipient of ACE or other funding and were unable to secure the Covid Arts Recovery Fund. We have been offering reduced rates, preferential box office splits and extended promo support to aid the recovery from the past year and a half. Your help will enable us to continue bringing fantastic stories to your local theatre. 50% of your donation will go to the Alma Theatre, and 50% to our inhouse company, Schoolhouse Productions.