Songs for Scarlet Women

Sarah Moule and Simon Wallace’s Songs For Scarlet Women is funny, moving and provocative; rarely do you find first-rate musicality and vivid, insightful presentation in such delightful balance. This is sophisticated jazz cabaret of the highest order.

Chris Ingham, Bury St Edmunds Festival

Hugely entertaining and highly professional. Our audiences loved Sarah’ show

Sue Beresford, Rural Touring Strategic Officer, Notts, Lincs & Leics

‘Sarah Moule’s performance is sleek and relaxed with velvet vocals made even more sublime by the musicianship of Simon Wallace. The narrative was informative without being too wordy with entertaining song choices. Only such highly talented and experienced performers could make a show appear so effortless. Classy cabaret, perfect entertainment. More, please.’

Brigitte Rennie, Artistic Director, The Mosaic Cat

Celebrating the ‘femme fatale’ in all her feisty glory as heroine and heartbreaker, the show combines songs and stories about dangerous women who pushed the boundaries of acceptable female behaviour.

From Eve in the Garden of Eden to the Film Noir goddesses via Cleopatra and Mata Hari the stories of these rule-breakers have been handed down through history almost exclusively by the rule-makers – men. Sarah Moule retells these stories from a 21st Century woman’s point of view, revealing why it’s time to reassess the legacy of these trail blazing women.

This upbeat 90 minute show in two acts is structured around songs by Simon Wallace and the late great jazz lyricist Fran Landesman. Landesman’s lyrics are one of the last links with the Golden Age of American songwriting. Simon and Sarah had a close eighteen year relationship with her up until her death in 2011. Simon and Fran met weekly and together wrote over 300 songs many of which which have been performed and recorded by singers on both sides of the Atlantic. The Observer described them as ‘one of the finest writing partnerships’.

The show also includes classic material by Fran’s longtime friend and admirer Steven Sondheim, together with songs by Leiber and Stoller and Cole Porter. It has had over 35 performances in a wide variety of community spaces as well as leading London venues. Most recently it was performed at The Pheasantry as part of the 2022 London Jazz Festival.