What Girls Are Made Of

What Girls Are Made Of wasn't particularly surprising. We have all heard the stories about the young, hopeful band from a small town looking to be next big thing, who gets screwed over by the big shot, city manager and is dropped almost as quickly as they are picked up. Cliché, right? Well a wise person once said, there is no such thing as originality. It's not the story you tell, it's about how you tell it and the way Cora Bissett, on the stage of the Assembly Rooms Main Hall told her story, was breathtaking.

What Girls Are Made Of is about a Patti Smith obsessed, 17-year-old-girl in the early 90's who dreamed of being in a band, and that band became Darling Heart. Her musical journey took her from Fife to London, it made her lose friends and gain a life she didn't want. Ultimately however it placed her into the arms of her husband, baby girl in tow, and a show at the Fringe which might I add, has been the biggest turnout I have seen so far. I had to check I was in the right room because that stage was set out as if we were waiting for Patti "fucking" Smith herself.

I don't know what it is about performances at the Fringe, but they are having some trouble keeping tears inside people's heads. Most inconvenient when you didn't pack any tissues and the person sitting next to you has passed them along in the other direction. Cora told the story of the two miscarriages that made her question and doubt whether she would ever get what she really wanted.

But don't get me wrong, What Girls Are Made Of is so much more than tears: it's power, it's truth, it's the downfalls and knowing when to pick yourself up and stand your ground like a Shetland Pony. FYI, I've never heard that reference before but it's pretty much my new favourite thing.

Cora wasn't the only charm on stage; her amazingly talented supporting acts had fun, flair and were full of musical and theatrical talent. The spirited foursome certainly did what they came here to do and that was share the story of a strong woman, who overcame many obstacles, many bad decisions fuelled by naivety and her dream of stardom, all to become the mother, actor and wife she is today.

Cora's story is a timeless reminder that we all go through obstacles, maybe not warming up a crowd for Radiohead or Blur kind of obstacles, but obstacles to say the least. 

Cora stopped relying on other people to make the life she envisioned a reality and started relying on herself. A message that women everywhere can benefit from and look up to, especially as women are constantly being treated like second class citizens, it is as welcomed as the standing ovation at the end of What Girls Are Made Of.

Catch the show from now until the 26th August, for the unsung story of every artist who the music industry tried and failed to break.