The Girl’s Guide to Saving the World (Old Fitz) ★★★½

Written by Elinor Cook. With Pleasure Productions. The Old Fitz. 27 Jan – 1 Feb, 2026.

Twenty-something insecurities hit home in Elinor Cook’s funny The Girl’s Guide to Saving the World, part of The Old Fitz Theatre’s Late Night programme.

Two best friends, Jane (Bridget Bourke) and Bella (Mia Fitzgerald), set forth on the internet to preach their gospel of millennial feminism as they navigate young adulthood. Their online bravado is confident and loud, but it quickly raises the question of whether it matches their real lives. As they attempt to balance love and work while figuring out what they actually want out of life, reality has a habit of biting back.

Cook’s play captures the early-life crisis of young adults facing serious, life-changing decisions with confidence and humour. It opens with Jane and Bella waiting on the results of a pregnancy test, workshopping Bella’s options in either event. This moment becomes a catalyst: the two decide to stop delaying and start doing the kind of work they really want to do, confronting the everyday sexism of modern life through sharp, personal editorials online. Predictably, their writing attracts both praise and backlash, including threats of rape and murder from online trolls.

Alongside this, Jane is dealing with upheaval at home. Her boyfriend Toby (Alex Kirwan) has suddenly quit his job as a teacher, making her the sole breadwinner in their household. When his proposed solution is to try for a baby, Jane is forced to process her conflicting emotions at speed.

That said, while the script is adept at portraying the growing pains of young adults with big aspirations and childish traits, it is let down by its first-base take on gender. The men in the show are drawn as simple, cartoonish figures — either menacing rapists or nice guys hiding a mean streak. The women joke about the long list of things women often do to placate and please men, but the ideas feel well-worn, and even in 2014, when the play debuted, this material would have felt undercooked.

Where the script lacks real teeth, however, the performances more than compensate. Bridget Bourke and Mia Fitzgerald share clear chemistry as best friends, balancing girlish energy with sharp, bright minds ready to take on the world. Alex Kirwan continues to make his mark as the slightly doe-eyed boyfriend (see also Ensemble’s Fly Girl), and his conviction in the comedy ensures the character lands. Cook has a strong ear for dialogue, and this core trio are a pleasure to watch as they bring the text to life.

The focus on performance is supported by clear, unobtrusive direction from Roisin Wallace-Nash, alongside Riley Warner’s clean set design and Angelo Torres’ effective use of music. Given the constraints of the “late night” slot and the short run, the production makes a series of smart, economical choices.

With feminism that barely goes beyond chanting “Who run the world? Girls”, The Girl’s Guide to Saving the World isn’t doing anything new, but it gives its performers space to play to their strengths, making it a light and enjoyable watch. With witty dialogue and characters that balance the silly with the sad and sweet, it provides a welcome counterbalance to the intensity of the main show, Danny & the Deep Blue Sea, and makes for a strong double-bill.