If you’re unfamiliar with the stories of female spies in the Second World War, you’re probably not alone — but Persephone Theatre has the perfect production to remedy that for you.
The Invisible: Agents of Ungentlemanly Warfare is a Catalyst Theatre production about fictionalized versions of the stories of real female spies for the Allied Forces in World War II. Churchill’s Special Operations Executive (also referred to as “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare”) conducted many covert and daring operations during the war, with some even alleging their work was the inspiration for the character of James Bond.
And while it’s called “ungentlemanly,” the group utilized plenty of women as well as men in schemes of sabotage and subterfuge.
Amanda Trapp, one of the performers in the show, said it’s exciting to highlight the too-often-forgotten accomplishments of women in history.
“I hope women and girls feel empowered to do things that they’ve been told are out of their reach,” she said.
A Saskatoon-based artist, Trapp has been part of The Invisible for more than five years, first auditioning back in 2018 for its first staged production in 2019. The show was supposed to make its Saskatoon debut years ago, but COVID-19 scuttled those plans.
This is the fifth iteration of the show written, directed and composed by Jonathan Christenson, that Trapp has been involved in. And yes, composed is correct — because The Invisible is also a musical, even though Trapp said it’s a bit atypical.
“Part of Catalyst’s style is to take these stories we don’t really think of as musical theatre fodder and incorporating their dramatic music style and choreography,” she said. “The music allows us to cut to the heart of the characters.”
Trapp lauded the intricate characters on display in this production. As she puts it, every iteration of the show has given Christenson and all of the performers more and more opportunities to examine and refine the nuances of each spy on stage.
They might be fictionalized versions of real-life spies, but these characters’ personalities and actions have become very real depictions of the nearly 40 women who inspired them.
“As an artist, this show is really demanding mentally, physically, vocally … it requires a rigor that I find levels up my game every time I do it,” Trapp said. “It’ll be really difficult to not get hooked into the show … each character represents so much.”
Spies and secrecy, music and mayhem — The Invisible promises to bring exciting untold stories from the past to the Persephone Theatre stage that resonate with modern audiences.
“I hope audiences see this isn’t just history. The moral questions we’re posing onstage, the injustices we’re talking about, I hope people walk away seeing that these issues are still present, and we have a chance to believe in a better world,” Trapp said.
Catalyst Theatre’s production of The Invisible: Agents of Ungentlemanly Warfare will be at Persephone Theatre until Nov. 3, 2024. Tickets can be purchased online at persephonetheatre.org.
