From its birth, science has always been a male-dominated field. It was ‘named, developed, interpreted by white men – for decades’.
Caroline Herschel, much like many other woman in the field of science, was not fully recognised and appreciated however she did mark the start of a new path. She was the first woman to receive a salary as a scientist, the first woman to work as a government employee and the discoverer of many astronomical features. Although she is not as well-known as other scientists, she contributed to understanding the universe as we currently know it and paved the way for women such as Marie Curie, Rosalind Franklin and Barbara McClintock to work on their science and change the world.
The Moon and Miss Herschel is a perfect balance of the empowering memoirs of Caroline Herschel with witty humour. Through multiple different well-blended timelines, stories of the French hot air balloon craze accompany the story of Diane, a young and upcoming physicist who represents the future of women in science and the breaking down of the male dominated culture in science.
As this year, for the first year ever in England, the number of girls sitting an A-level in a science was greater than the number of boys, the play also celebrates the advancements towards equality in the world of science and empowers us to push through the barriers that may stand in the way of our goals.
Kieran Kiggell, Henry Hollingworth
