Showing @ Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh until Wed 20 Nov @ 20:00

“Behind every great man is an even greater woman”, or so the saying goes.  It’s a sweeping statement, not always true, used to make women feel better about sitting in the back seat. The story of Caroline Herschel, sister of astronomer Sir William Herschel, suggests that it should never be enough to be great in the background and that men and women should – equally – be entitled to their own credit where due. The Scottish premiere of Take the Space’s Stella, shows this woman as passionate, meticulous and eager to step out of William’s shadow.

Written by Siobhan Nicholas, the play parallels Caroline’s (Nicholas) story with that of radio astronomer Jessica Bell (Kathryn Pogson). As Jessica takes a business trip to discover more about Herschel’s life, entries from her diaries are re-enacted, eventually divulging the secret that would lead Caroline to destroy 10 years worth of journals.

Stella, “a story of women, their men and astronomy” begins under a blanket of stars, projected onto the backdrop. The story unfolds steadily and there is no great climax but rather a subtle dénouement. Both women struggle throughout to find their place and establish themselves in relation to the men in their life: Catherine with her ever-successful brother and Jessica with her husband who wants to move abroad to further his career.

It’s hard to ignore the underlying question: how much has changed for women and their role in the family unit? While most of the dialogue makes subtle points about feminism and the expectation of women in society, there are some bold and pointed remarks made. In her later life, Caroline’s work – the discovery and recording of comets and nebulae – was recognised with Gold Medals from the Astronomical Society of London and the King of Prussia. She was a great woman and an important scientist, in equal measure, not behind or beside anyone else, but in her own right. Stella, quite rightly, celebrates that.