Our Ethos

Something Happened is a theatre company that wants to change things. And, hopefully, make you laugh in the process.

Recently, there's been a lot of coverage about how poorly women are represented in British theatre, both on and off the stage. Oddly enough, while 68% of theatregoers are women, the 2:1 problem (two men for every woman) persists when it comes to the actual productions. Why there would be such a discrepancy is somewhat confusing, but Stella Duffy has offered the notion that "young women playwrights currently in the ascendency have clearly [...] noticed that they are likely to be taken more seriously, that their work is more likely to be produced, if it’s about men."

This is, hopefully, where Something Happened comes to the rescue, cape flapping majestically in the wind and all that. 

Our goal, quite simply, is to create funny, interesting parts for women. We're not saying we want all-female casts or even that we always want women to be at the forefront of the action. We simply want to even out that 2:1 ratio and, beyond that, depict women as people who are just as capable of jokes and - more broadly, just as complicated - as men. 

Admittedly, we're starting off small. Our first project is a two-hander by the name of Character, in which two old friends, Michelle and Freya, reunite in a country cottage so that one of them can finish her first novel. It's a comedy about the creative process, a satire on the romanticisation of the act of writing, a poignant look at the passing of time and also sort of a bromance. Only with women. But there's no word for that - not just yet, anyway. Think Bridesmaids meets Withnail & I and you're halfway there.

With a bit of luck, we'll be staging a shortened version of Character this summer at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Beyond that? Well...watch this space.

Hamlet, 2010 - Socratic Theatre

Laura starred in a gender-reversed production of Hamlet with the Socratic Theatre, receiving the following praise:

"Vincent is unbelievable in this role. She might be the best Hamlet I’ve ever seen. Instead of coming across as powerless and uncertain, Vincent’s Hamlet is dominant, spiteful, fiercely intelligent and sexy. She breathes new life into the character, delivering each line with passion, irony and wit." (Theatromania.ca)

Palace of the End, 2009 - Alumnae Theatre

Laura appeared as "Soldier" in Palace of the End in 2009, receiving the following critical praise:

"Vincent crafts a multilayered performance which elicits strong counter-feelings of both disgust and empathy. As Vincent's 'Soldier' recalls (in a frighteningly detached and nonchalant tone) the unspeakable abuse of the detainees at Abu Ghraib, she caresses her pregnant stomach with maternal tenderness, creating a disturbing juxtaposition. To her credit, Vincent is able to deconstruct England's despicable facade and manages to tap into a vulnerability and, remarkably enough considering the heinous acts that England was convicted of, a credible level of humanity." (Romina Oliverio, BroadwayWorld.com)

The Mysterious Case of Maria, 2012 - BBC Radio Four

In 2012, Florence was the lead writer on an Afternoon Play for Radio Four - The Mysterious Case of Maria. Directed by Abigail Le Fleming, and co-written by Emer Kenny, Corey Montague Sholay, Sandra Townsend and Wemmy Ogunyankin, this noirish romantic comedy (which aired on the 22nd November) was praised by Moira Petty of The Stage: "tightly written and strongly characterised, with none of that ‘written by committee’ feel you might expect".

Cosi, 2012 - Alumnae Theatre

In April 2012, Laura (R) appeared as Julie in Cosi.

Photograph by Dahlia Katz, www.dahliakatz.com

Beyond Therapy, 2012 - The Village Playhouse

Laura, who is based in Toronto, appeared as Prudence in Beyond Therapy in January 2012. Here she is with her cast members.

Remember This, 2011 - EUTC

In 2011, Florence co-wrote an hour long romantic drama - entitled Remember This - with Lizzie Bourne. It was staged at Bedlam Theatre in Edinburgh during the Fringe Festival, running from the 7th to the 27th August.

Remember This, directed by Annie Hardy and starring Paul Brotherston, Daisy Badger and Emma Friedman-Cohen, was praised by The Scotsman ("Where it does work, it works rather better than many professional productions"), ScotsGay ("Emotional, honest and so very real, this is what excellent drama is all about"), The U-Review ("an exceptionally profound and moving piece of new theatre"), EdFringeReview ("It made me laugh and it made me cry, what more do you want from a student production?") and ViewFromTheStalls ("

The Fringe is full of small scale personal dramas; few will pack the emotional punch of Remember This").

Further to co-writing the project, Florence also photographed publicity and production shots, the best of which are below.

Daisy Badger as Helen, Paul Brotherston as Nick