Recipe for a Perfect Wife – Domestic drama 1950s-style

Published: 13 August, 2010
by JOSH LOEB

AS if the recession wasn’t enough of an introduction to the rigours of Austerity Britain for those of us who weren’t around at the time, the decade of post-war “making do” is set to be revived at a series of 1950s-themed “street parties” at an Islington theatre.

Recipe for a Perfect Wife – a darkly comic play created by Holloway residents Nadia Papachronopoulou and Christina Mc Culloch – promises to lay bare the harsh realities behind the wholesome veneer of life for housewives in 1950s England.

It starts its run at the King’s Head Theatre in Upper Street next week, and to remind the audience of exactly what London was like in the days of rockabilly music, polka dot dresses and buttoned-up respecta­bility “neighbour nights” are being organised at the venue on August 20 and 26 and September 2, complete with post-war canapés and costumes from the era. 

“After the war, people were very community orientated,” said Ms Papachronopoulou.

“With the economic situation we are in at the moment, we wanted to get people together so they could experience that. Vintage fashion is very in right now and everyone is obsessing about the past.”

Ms Papachronopoulou said there had been great progress since the days when women were expected to stay at home, cook twice-baked soufflé and do as their husbands said – but she added that there was still some way to go as women are still paid less than their male equivalents in many offices.

“I was shocked to find that in the 1950s men could have their wives committed to a mental asylum if they didn’t follow the rules they set down for them,” she said. “In magazines and newspapers women were presented as having a low place in the world. We have come a long way since then but there are still problems such as this ridiculous photoshop culture where magazines present doctored images of women that bear no relation to how most women look in reality.”

All the costumes in the play have been donated by Vivien of Holloway, which specialises in retro clothing, and local shop Practical Magik is helping organise the street parties.

• Recipe for a Perfect Wife is at The King’s Head Theatre, 115 Upper Street, N1, from August 18-September 4 at 9.30pm. For tickets call 0844 209 0326.