★★★☆☆
Gemma Cairney’s The Immortal Sisterhood LIVE arrived at Manchester’s Aviva Studios, Factory International, taking audiences on a haunting journey through time as it explores the lives of twelve remarkable women throughout history.
The performance begins gently, with flowing blue waves projected onto a screen (art direction by Rebecca Palmer), behind a performer using sign language. The ensemble gradually joins the stage, all dressed in white linens (costume design by Carla Danielle). Comprising of Mele Broomes, Fay Guiffo, A Jones, Simone Seales and Roxanne Tataei, the performers layer breath and song, setting the tone for Gemma Cairney’s spoken word.
Gemma Cairney is an artist of many talents, working as a broadcaster, writer, documentary maker, cultural producer and activist. Developed from her book of the same name, published by Canongate on 13 August, The Immortal Sisterhood Live originally had its world premiere at Lincoln Center in New York in January 2025, before making its UK debut last month at the British Library in London.
As Cairney’s original literary work sets out, the performance is divided into sections dedicated to twelve extraordinary women throughout history, including Grace Jones, Wang Zhenyi, Pamela Colman Smith, Audre Lorde, Betty Davis, Marsha P. Johnson, Nanny of the Maroons and Pharaoh Hatshepsut, to name a few. Each woman’s story is brought to life through a combination of spoken word, music, movement and striking natural visuals (cinematography by Alice Millar).
Cairney herself remained out of sight from my view for much of the performance, although whether this was intentional is unclear. Unfortunately, the venue’s layout doesn’t do the production many favours. A separate art installation positioned in the middle of the space obscures the view for much of the audience, with people shuffling chairs and moving around throughout the performance in an attempt to see all the performers and visuals on screen. The low stage only adds to these visibility issues, creating a frustrating distraction from the performance itself. Perhaps another space within Aviva Studios would have been better suited to this particular piece.
Singing and moving in harmony, with several performers also playing instruments, the ensemble demonstrates an impressive mastery of music, movement and performance. It’s incredible to witness the sheer breadth of talent within this collective, as they move effortlessly between dance, impeccable vocals and performances on the violin and cello. Their versatility is a feat to behold.
The energy really picks up during the section dedicated to Betty Davis, as the performers react and move to the squeaking sounds of a violin. Laughing and cackling, they fill the space with a wonderfully euphoric spirit.
One particularly beautiful moment sees several ensemble members crowned with flowers and bathed in golden light, accompanied by Nina Simone’s ‘Don’t You Pay Them No Mind’. Elsewhere, Cairney recounts her experience of meeting ‘the real-life goddess that is Grace Jones’, bringing a more personal dimension to the celebration of these remarkable women. In many ways, Cairney herself belongs among them.
Haunting silhouettes and imagery accompany Cairney’s narration as she recounts passages from her book, The Immortal Sisterhood, with an emotive yet assertive voice, guiding the audience through each woman’s extraordinary life.
The Immortal Sisterhood LIVE closes on a joyous, dance-filled moment, with disco ball visuals illuminating the screen as the ensemble takes its bows and brings Cairney out to join them. It’s a fittingly celebratory ending to a performance dedicated to honouring the lives, legacies and enduring influence of extraordinary women. However, it would have been even more fitting to honour them with a performance space in which they could be fully seen and appreciated, as their talent truly knows no bounds.
