HerStories! Celebrating Womankind in Theatre: Faultline: Hester's Descent by Nicki Jackowska

The Brighton theatre scene is marking Women's History Month this March with the HerStories! festival, a series dedicated to celebrating women's contributions to the stage. One of the featured pieces is Faultline: Hester's Descent, a new work by local poet and playwright Nicki Jackowska. This production is scheduled for Friday 27th and Saturday 28th March 2026 at the Grania Dean Studio, located within the Lantern Theatre. Presented by the OUTIS company, the event takes the form of a dramatised reading rather than a full-scale production, focusing on the text's lyrical qualities to explore the internal world of the protagonist, Hester. It is a chance to see how Jackowska, who is well-known in local literary circles, translates her poetic voice into a theatrical format.

The play is described as a provocative exploration of Hester’s emotional and existential journey, using evocative landscapes to mirror her state of mind. An interesting aspect of this project is its affiliation with the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation (BDDF), which provides some context for the themes Jackowska addresses in her writing. Because of the nature of the topics covered, the performance is recommended for those aged 14 and over. It is a relatively concise experience, with a running time of approximately 70 minutes, making it a focused addition to the local cultural calendar for those interested in contemporary poetry and gender-focused narratives. The collaboration with the BDDF suggests a depth to the character study that goes beyond standard drama, looking closely at identity and self-perception.

For those planning to attend, the sessions are held in the intimate setting of the Grania Dean Studio in Brighton. Tickets are being managed through the TicketSource platform, where you can find the specific booking details for both the Friday and Saturday evening slots. Since it is part of a wider festival, it sits alongside other events aimed at highlighting womankind in theatre, though this particular reading stands out for its specific focus on the intersection of poetry and drama. The venue choice at the Lantern Theatre often suits these types of character-driven pieces, allowing the audience to engage closely with the performers and the script. It is worth noting that the 70-minute duration is continuous, so it is a fairly straightforward evening for anyone looking to fit some local culture into their weekend plans.