The Second Woman (2016 play)

This article is about the Australian play. For the 1950 film, see The Second Woman (1950 film).

The Second Woman is a twenty-four hour performance piece devised by Nat Randall and Anna Breckon first performed in 2016. ^[1] A female-identifying performer repeats a scene based loosely on John Cassavetes' Opening Night one hundred times. This scene she play with one hundred male-identifying performers, who are mostly not professional actors.

In its first performances, from 2016 to 2019, Randall played the central character, Viriginia. Since then different actors have taken on the role as the piece has toured internationally, including in Taiwan, Italy, New York, and London.

Touring history

• 2016–2019 Nat Randall (Viriginia), at various locations in Australia
• 2018 Kaohsiung, Taiwan with Zhu Zhi-Ying
• 2019 Toronto, Canada with Laara Sadiq
• 2019 Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn, New York with Alia Shawkat
• 2023 The New Vic, London with Ruth Wilson ^[2]
• 2024 Onassis Stegi, Athens with Stefania Goulioti
• 2025 Royal Palace Court Theatre, Napoli with Euridice Axen
• 2025 Cork Opera House, Cork with Eileen Walsh

Reception

In 2019, The Second Woman was nominated for a Helpmann Award. ^[3]

References

1. Jagose, Annamarie; Wallace, Lee (2018-02-28). "The Second Woman: a 24-hour lesson in the gendered performance of intimacy". The Conversation. Retrieved 2025-08-27.
2. Akbar, Arifa (2023-05-22). "The Second Woman review – Ruth Wilson's spellbinding theatrical marathon". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2025-08-27.
3. "Helpmann nominations for The Second Woman and A Call To Dance". Performing Lines. June 12, 2019. Retrieved August 26, 2025.