Ghosts of Whitechapel

Co-written by Chris Brickhouse, "Ghosts of Whitechapel" is a well-researched but fictionalized account of the five women who have been known in history only as "Jack the Ripper's victims." Polly Nichols, Annie Chapman, Catherine Eddowes, Elizabeth Stride and Mary Jane Kelly are ready to speak from beyond the grave and ask you to consider the lives they led instead of simply the deaths they suffered.

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Co-written by Chris Brickhouse, "Ghosts of Whitechapel" is a well-researched but fictionalized account of the five women who have been known in history only as "Jack the Ripper's victims." Polly Nichols, Annie Chapman, Catherine Eddowes, Elizabeth Stride and Mary Jane Kelly are ready to speak from beyond the grave and ask you to consider the lives they led instead of simply the deaths they suffered.

www.ghostsofwhitechapel.weebly.com

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Ghosts of Whitechapel

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  • Lisa Dellagiarino Feriend: Ghosts of Whitechapel

    What a beautiful play. "Ghosts of Whitechapel" follows the five victims of Jack the Ripper as they tell their stories - without ever saying his name. It is moving and haunting and empowering as well, as these women reclaim their lives and their stories. Such lovely work!

    What a beautiful play. "Ghosts of Whitechapel" follows the five victims of Jack the Ripper as they tell their stories - without ever saying his name. It is moving and haunting and empowering as well, as these women reclaim their lives and their stories. Such lovely work!

  • Ross Compton: Ghosts of Whitechapel

    For whatever reason, we are pretty obsessed with serial killers. Making a Murderer's massive success broadcasts this fact loud and clear. That's one of reasons why this play is so refreshing. It dares to take the focus away from Jack the Ripper and instead aim its sights onto the eponymous ghosts, giving those women a voice, and in a way, their lives back. It's a sometimes surprisingly funny and consistently empowering script that you should read now.

    For whatever reason, we are pretty obsessed with serial killers. Making a Murderer's massive success broadcasts this fact loud and clear. That's one of reasons why this play is so refreshing. It dares to take the focus away from Jack the Ripper and instead aim its sights onto the eponymous ghosts, giving those women a voice, and in a way, their lives back. It's a sometimes surprisingly funny and consistently empowering script that you should read now.

  • Shaun Leisher: Ghosts of Whitechapel

    It feels like stories about sex workers have been part of theatre since the beginning of the mediums formation but never before have these women been given the agency over their own stories like this. A play that looks back at a horrible moment in history yet very much speaks to our current true crime obsessed society. Women like the ones in this play have for too long faced two deaths. The first being of their physical being and the second of their memory. For too long we have let men tell their stories and paint them as just victims.

    It feels like stories about sex workers have been part of theatre since the beginning of the mediums formation but never before have these women been given the agency over their own stories like this. A play that looks back at a horrible moment in history yet very much speaks to our current true crime obsessed society. Women like the ones in this play have for too long faced two deaths. The first being of their physical being and the second of their memory. For too long we have let men tell their stories and paint them as just victims.

These five roles are based on historical, 19th century women. These women were a reflection of their time and place. They were pushed out of their own societies and marginalized by the patriarchy in power. It is important in your casting you reflect your time and community as well. Casting for these roles should be open to all interested actors for whom the character descriptions ignite curiosity. It is the strong intention of the playwrights that the casting team invest time and effort into actively reaching out to communities of color, the LGBTQIA+ community and those with disabilities to let them know they are welcome to submit. Diversity of body size, gender, age and neurodiversity are highly encouraged. The only physical requirement is that Mary Jane look visibly younger than the others.

Development History

  • Type Workshop, Organization Rhinofest, Year 2020
  • Type Reading, Organization self-produced, Year 2019