Vera Drake
Magna Pacific

London during the 1950s was a diffi cult time for some. Vera Drake, though, did her best to help needy people in the community.

Her selfless, gentle nature make her a beacon of light in dark days. Her elderly mother, disabled friend and lonely neighbours rely on her – as do hundreds of women who have fallen pregnant out of wedlock.

On Friday afternoons, Vera makes housecalls to girls to help them miscarry.

She doesn’t see that she’s breaking the law, only helping people in need. Her short time with the frightened girls was the only acknowledgement of their situation they got.

When the police find out what she’s been doing on the side of her community work, her family’s happy, secure life turns around.

This well-acted movie has stayed out of the spotlight. Worth a look.

– Lt Simone Heyer

Stage Beauty
Magna Pacific

During the early days of Shakespearean theatre, men acted women’s parts.

It challenged a man to really put his heart and soul into the character, as well as making himself as believably feminine as possible. This suited men, but not women who longed for the warmth of the on-stage limelight.

They could get close to the acting scene by being dressers of the actors, but behind the scenes they learned the lines of the plays, waiting for the day the acting rules changed. When Mrs Hughs is involved in an illegal pub production of Othello, she comes to the King’s attention and with the help of his mistress, the acting rules are changed.

This opens the floodgates for women actors and forces men in women’s roles to learn to act like men, or live on the streets.

– LT Simone Heyer