ADC Theatre’s Latest Production: ‘Our Town Needs a Nando’s’ – A unique take on rural girlhood

The ADC’s latest production, ‘Our Town Needs a Nando’s’, is currently showing. I sat down with one of the directors, Ruby Iverson, to discuss it.

The show’s description reads: ‘School is a nightmare, boys are infuriating and Maccies is the only place open after 6 pm. Growing up isn't easy, but it's even harder when you're from a place where no one expects anything of you - and especially if you're queer or the new girl at school. Beth, Rachel, Zahidah, Ellie and Chloe are stuck. Stuck in their drama group, stuck in school and stuck in their small town which doesn't even have a Nando’s.’ 

Picture taken by Nmeso Egwuekwe for ‘Our Town Needs A Nandos’ . Behind the Scenes of rehearsals. 

As Iverson sums it up, ‘‘Our Town Needs a Nando’s’ might start with laughter, but it’s about more than just the jokes. It’s about community, solidarity, and how people come together unexpectedly when their values are tested.’ She explains it to me as being Barbie-esque: glittery and about girlhood but also speaking of serious social issues that young girls face. When I ask who her audience is, she emphasises that everyone is included. ‘I want everyone to come watch it: I want girls to come with their friends and also bring their boyfriends.’

 “its about representing communities who are often misrepresented”

It is clear within 5 minutes of meeting Ruby that she is incredibly passionate about this project. She originally pitched it as a producer in March and ended up joining as a director alongside 3 others. That’s about 3 more directors than most productions have.  When I asked how this came to be, she said that the others were just as excited about the project, and spoke of the ‘rewarding’ experience of working in such a collaborative environment, with each individual bringing something different to the production. Whilst it might seem like having so many co-directors might lead to competing visions, Ruby describes how they have been able to work harmoniously together.

She notes that ‘Nando’s’ brings an authentic and positive representation of small communities that are often ‘overlooked or misrepresented.’ Though she was born and raised in London, Ruby has a personal connection to the kind of place shown in ‘Nando’s’, having parents from small towns and spending much of her time in places like Suffolk and Cornwall. She goes on to describe how ‘Nando’s’ highlights the warmth, resilience, and humour found in these communities. ‘It’s not about getting five-star reviews,’ she tells me, ‘it’s about representing communities who are often misrepresented.’ ‘Nando’s’ centres around teenage high school girls in a small, rural town who struggle with sexism, identity, boys and other complex issues, which are often ignored in mainstream media or are only explored in the context of big cities.

  “complex issues, which are often ignored in mainstream media or are only explored in the context of big cities”

‘Nando’s’ is also unique in its casting. The cast includes 5 main characters, all of whom play the teenage girls the story centres around. Ruby tells me only 1 of the 5 have been involved in theatre at Cambridge before, and that the project is about ‘extending it to people who haven’t had extensive experience in theatre broadly.’ Several of the leads haven’t acted since primary school. Despite this, Ruby describes how their performances have been so strong in rehearsal so far, that the directors can’t believe they haven’t been acting their whole life. This is especially striking given what some people see as the slightly insular and often cliquey nature of the Cambridge theatre scene. Aiming to extend its impact beyond the theatre space, the production is also raising funds for women’s charities. As part of the fundraising initiative, audience members will have the chance to purchase special items and merchandise like friendship bracelets and snacks. The profits will be donated to a local charity for women and girls that focuses on homelessness. Overall, ‘Nando’s’ has been well received so far and is running at the ADC until Saturday 2nd November!