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How to Date a Feminist

Written by Samantha Ellis

Wednesday 11th to Saturday 14th February 2026

Directed by Callum West

author play bench production

AuthorSamantha Ellis

Samantha Ellis is a British playwright and author known for her insightful explorations of identity, literature, and heritage. Born in London to Iraqi-Jewish parents, Ellis studied English at Queens' College, Cambridge. Her multicultural background deeply informs her work, which often blends personal history with broader cultural narratives. She began her career in theatre, with early plays like The Candy Jar (1996) and Patching Havoc (2003), and later gained recognition for her radio play Sugar and Snow, set in London’s Kurdish community.

Ellis is best known for her literary memoir How to Be a Heroine (2014), which reexamines the female characters who shaped her reading life, and Take Courage: Anne Brontë and the Art of Life (2017), a biography that champions the often-overlooked Brontë sister. Her latest book, Chopping Onions on My Heart (2025), explores the fading language of Iraqi Jews and the emotional terrain of cultural loss and preservation.

Her romantic comedy How to Date a Feminist (2016) has been performed internationally, showcasing her wit and feminist sensibility. Beyond writing, Ellis has contributed to screenplays for Paddington and Paddington 2, written for The Guardian, and served as a judge for the Jewish Quarterly Wingate Award.

She lives in London with her son and continues to engage audiences through her plays, books, and public commentary.

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PlayHow to Date a Feminist

How to Date a Feminist is a witty, gender-flipping rom-com that challenges modern love with laughter and insight. A sharp, subversive romantic comedy that turns the genre on its head.

Meet Steve, a self-declared feminist raised by a Greenham Common activist, who believes in explicit verbal consent and apologizes for the patriarchy before proposing. His partner Kate, however, prefers lipstick, cupcakes, and literary bad boys like Heathcliff. Sparks fly as their mismatched ideals collide in a fast-paced, dialogue-rich play that’s as thought-provoking as it is hilarious.

With Ellis’s trademark wit and warmth, the play explores gender roles, romantic expectations, and the messy contradictions of progressive dating. From costume parties to coffee shop debates, How to Date a Feminist invites audiences to laugh, squirm, and reflect on what it really means to love in a post-feminist world.

Praised as “witty, slyly provocative and downright lovely”, this play is perfect for anyone who’s ever wondered whether feminism and romance can truly coexist—or whether love is just another ideological battlefield.

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The Bench Production

How to Date a Feminist

This play was staged at The Spring Arts and Heritage Centre (formerly Havant Arts Centre), East Street Havant - Bench Theatre's home since 1977.

Cast

Steve Jeff Bone
Kate Ria Basford
Ross Chris Overend
Carina Elly Willats
Joe Andy Rees
Morag Di Wallsgrove
Jenny Katy Bailey

Note: The part of Morag was to be played by Virginia Horton who, for personal reasons, unfortunately had to withdraw from the production after the dress rehearsal. Di Wallsgrove stepped in to play the part for the performances. Virginia still appears in the production photos as these were taken during the dress rehearsal.

Production Team

Director Callum West
Assistant Director Di Wallsgrove
Stage Manager Robin Hall
Assistant Stage Manager Di Coates
Lighting Design Phil Hanley
Lighting Operator Laura Sheppard
Sound Design Callum West
Sound Operator Janice Halsey
Marketing Tas Halford
Programme Editor Derek Callam
Marketing Tasmin Halford
Photography Caitlin Green
Front of House Manager Ingrid Corrigan

Special thanks to; Lorraine Stone for her use of her wedding dress, Kevin and Pauline West for assistance with props and Dynamo Youth Theatre for the loan of costumes.

Director's Notes

I came across this play when I was looking for something to put forward for the February slot. I knew I wanted to direct, and I wanted an ensemble piece, but I was struggling to find something that took my eye. I'd ordered a number of scripts from Nick Hern Books to see what they had to offer and this one stood out to me.

I've always enjoyed plays that inspire new and interesting ways of performing them. This play was originally performed by only 2 people, taking on all the roles themselves, however I found it thoroughly interesting to see what it would be like with a whole cast. On that front I was very lucky. I had a number of keen, new members, who were ready to throw themselves in. They may have found it strange and unnatural, yet they all went ahead with my request and have built some lovely moments in the play. It has truly become a group experience.

However I wouldn't have managed to put this show on without the wonderful support and hard work of both Robin as my Stage Manager, but also Di as my Assistant Director. Their organisation and years of experience is a blessing to any director, and made my life far easier throughout.

Lastly, this show is a fun-filled, silly, yet thought provoking, comedy of modern day. It is meant to show that anything taken to extremes is not a good idea. We all strive to be the best versions of ourselves and for those we love, but it is never a simple answer. But we try regardless.

Callum West, Director

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Production Photographs

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