Set in Soviet Russia, Steven Young’s Night Witches follows the strong story of the first female fighter pilot squadron, based on real historical events.

Full to the brim with powerful and deadly women, the characters are heavily symbolic of female empowerment and the pushing of gender boundaries.

The all-American cast play the diverse and emotionally-fuelled characters with great vigour and passion. Despite essentially being a production of a university’s drama department, made in Texas and brought to Brighton, it was performed with both energy and dynamism.

Although admittedly not written by historians, the writer and cast from the Texas Woman’s University Drama Program had researched the subject well, and attempted to keep the play as near to the true lives of these remarkable female Soviet fighters as possible.

Within the confines of the modest stage, the resourcefulness of their theatrics was very effective; to portray fighter pilots on stage is not an easy task for any theatrical team, and it was carried out to a good standard.

Encompassing Russian history, female strength and aviation, this play was an enjoyable (and completely free) evening of theatre. Night Witches is an eye-opening look into the surprising history of women in war.