Eglantyne The Show

EGLANTYNE is a new one woman play exploring the extraordinary life of Eglantyne Jebb, a courageous, charming, passionate, humanitarian, human rights activist, radical fundraiser, social reformer and co-founder of Save the Children. From her idyllic Shropshire childhood, Eglantyne went on to Oxford University, social work in Cambridge, heartbreaks, suffrage rallies, spiritualism, the Balkans, arrest in Trafalgar Square, saving starving children and pioneering children’s rights.

In 1919, responding to the British Government’s lack of response to the devastating famine in postwar Europe, Eglantyne and her sister Dorothy Buxton founded Save the Children. Eglantyne drew up the Rights of the Child which evolved into the current United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Eglantyne Jebb is one of the most influential women of the 20th century and yet one of the least known.

EGLANTYNE launched in New Zealand on 1 May 2014 in Geraldine and played in Timaru, Ashburton, Christchurch, Wellington and New Plymouth.

In 2015 EGLANTYNE toured in the UK launching with a private preview at Eglantyne Jebb's childhood home The Lyth, Ellesmere, Shropshire; followed by the UK premiere at Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury; Ludlow Assembly Rooms in the Ludlow Fringe Festival; Courtyard Theatre, Hereford; Mumford Theatre, Cambridge; and The Georgian Theatre Royal, Richmond, North Yorkshire.

In 2016 EGLANTYNE premiered in Australia at the Adelaide Fringe at Holden Street Theatres. EGLANTYNE also toured to New Zealand secondary schools in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Timaru.

In 2017 EGLANTYNE played at London's Tristan Bates Theatre Festival of Solo Performance, Brighton Fringe, London’s Central Family Court and Melbourne’s Rippon Lea Historic National Trust House.

In 2018 EGLANTYNE was performed at New Zealand’s Government House, Underground Venues Buxton Fringe, and at the Gilded Balloon Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

In 2021 EGLANTYNE was part of the Summer at Q Festival, Q Theatre, Auckland, New Zealand.

Compelling delivery that is strong, colourful and sympathetic … Do not miss seeing this account of the life of a monumental woman told with such authenticity, it was as if Eglantyne herself was in the room! – Sarah Wallace, The Plus Ones - Melbourne

Outstanding performance, engaging and endearing in equal measure … Not only is this a great show, it’s also a really important story of an incredible life. A love letter to a woman that changed the lives of so many around the world, and whose legacy continues to do good to this day – Bethan Highgate-Betts, The Reviews Hub – London

Chamberlain filets Jebb’s thorny story with wit and a light champagne brilliance of presentation …This could not be conceived better as a one woman show … enlightening and moving in equal measure – Simon Jenner, Fringe Review – UK

Written with wit and buoyancy, delivered in fine style – Lindsay Clark, Theatreview, Christchurch

Studied and heartfelt portrayal … engaging, informative and very entertaining – Ewen Coleman, The Dominion Post, Wellington