DIED BLONDES

9:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Sunday, October 7, 2018

Bread and Roses Theatre, 68 Clapham Manor Street, SW4 6DZ

DIED BLONDES – CLAPHAM FRINGE – JOAN ELLIS

Marilyn Monroe, movie star. Ruth Ellis, murderer. Infamous women. Famous last words, reimagined. Written and performed by award-winning writer, Joan Ellis pieces together the latest theories creating two dramatic monologues which enable these so-called dumb blondes to find their voice moments before they die. Marilyn Monroe, JFK’s ex-mistress whispers secrets about the Kennedy clan down the phone to ex-husband, Joe DiMaggio telling him exactly who wants her dead and why. In one neurotic, paranoid last phone call, she begs DiMaggio to save her from threats, real and imagined as she relives her past and is finally overpowered for the final time by one of the most powerful men in the USA, the President’s brother, Bobby Kennedy.

Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be hanged in Britain, alone in her cell minutes before her execution reads her letter to lover, David Blakely,
justifying why she shot him. She makes no attempt to atone for her crime. Her aim is to have the last word. For once. Driven to the brink
by Blakely’s constant infidelities and abuse, she was a woman who had been humiliated and beaten for the last time and sought the ultimate
revenge.

Praise for ‘DIED BLONDES’

Player Playwrights 2017
‘wonderful’ Martin McNamara (BBC Radio 4)
https://www.playerplaywrights.co.uk

Nevertheless Productions, Frome 2017
‘Fascinating theatre…carefully researched, convincing and beautifully contrasted, subtly observed and never falling into caricature.’

Died Blondes, Nevertheless at Archangel, Frome

Evesham Festival of Words, 2017
‘poignant… a night to remember’ Sue Ablett, Festival Director, https://www.facebook.com/EveshamFestivalofWords/

Hastings Fringe 2017
‘Brilliant performance’ Heather Alexander, Artistic Director

Ventnor Fringe 2017
‘chilling and moving’ Laura Clare Reid, Fringe Review ‘thought-provoking and engaging’
http://vfringe.ventnorexchange.co.uk/2017/08/13/dead-blondes-7/

The Cockpit, Theatre in the Pound, London 2017 (Ruth Ellis monologue)
‘Don’t change a word’ audience feedback

Plymouth Festival of Words 2017
‘Brilliant’ audience feedback

Brighton Fringe 2017
‘Writing and characterisation strong…great and vital part of an interesting programme’ Peter Hunter, Producer Apples and Snakes, South East

About Joan
Writer, lecturer, performer and broadcaster, Joan’s writing career began as an award-winning copywriter at top London advertising
agencies where she scripted television and radio commercials for blue-chip clients. She penned a regular column for parenting magazine,
Junior and has written for Campaign. She was a lecturer at The School of Communication Art and Bournemouth University. She taught Noel
Fielding all he knows about advertising which is probably why he became a comedian. She writes and performs shows for numerous comedy
clubs and literary festivals. She even performed on the same bill as Jo Brand. Once. She hosted a chat show on Vectis Radio interviewing
everyone from former Radio1 DJ, Rob da Bank to disgraced ex-MP Andrew Turner. She is the author of four books: I am Ella. Buy me. Guilt. The Things You Missed While You Were Away and The Killing of Mummy’s Boy,