The Ruby Dollsare a critically acclaimed, multi-disciplinary ensemble combining theatre, cabaret and close harmony singing, with 15+ years experience under their belts.
Accompanied by Benjamin Cox (Operation Mincemeat) on piano, this cabaret weaves the story of a shocking murder in Stourbridge from the 1940s through an eclectic mix of music. The Ruby Dolls switch from medieval hymn to Britney Spears,16th century folk to Mary Poppins with a sprinkling of Noel Coward and a dash of Beyoncé. Thought-provoking and witty, this cabaret is centred around a piece of local true crime often nicknamed “Who Put Bella In The Wych Elm?” which has been intriguing for generations. One of The Ruby Dolls hails from the West Midlands and so they are delighted to be bringing this production to a Birmingham audience. Especially as the crime occurred in woodland just 12 miles down the road from the theatre!
This show is at 3pm on Sunday afternoon at the stunning central Birmingham Pub & Theatre – The Old Joint Stock. The pub downstairs is known for delicious pies and a Sunday roast, so we may have just handed you the perfect Sunday afternoon: pub lunch and a pint followed by cabaret in the lovely theatre space upstairs! This cabaret is packed with charm and intrigue and has a running time of 1 hour 15mins.
This is a welcome return for The Ruby Dolls who have performed at the Old Joint Stock Theatre before and they are delighted to be returning.
Susanna Giustiniani, one of The Ruby Dolls says: “As a west midlands performer born and bred, I am very excited for us to be able to share our take on this fascinating story with a local audience.”
Recent review from Visit Exeter: “The Ruby Dolls fuse storytelling and genre-busting musical mash-ups, and use Bella’s tragic story to explore themes of current gender-based violence, patriarchal control and social context – albeit with a feather-light touch.”
The Ruby Dolls have created 6 full-length theatre productions to date, including 2 Edinburgh Festival hits and have toured the UK with the help Arts Council England funding. They have been commissioned to perform in some wonderful theatres, including: Soho Theatre, Riverside Studios and The Other Palace. They have a back-catalogue of stand alone cabaret shows and bespoke private gigs. They have performed at High Tide Festival and were the official musical act for the Royal Parks Half Marathon on the main festival stage in Hyde Park. They have performed on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, BBC Radio 3’s The Verb, BBC Radio Stoke, BBC Radio WM, BBC Radio Scotland, The Guardian Book Podcast & London Live.
A selection of Press quotes about The Ruby Dolls:
“Goosebump inducing” The Stage.
“Hugely Enjoyable” The Guardian.
“Highly unorthodox, highly imaginative” The Scotsman
“If you can catch them, you must.” The Spectator
“Buzzing with warmth… these talented musical-theatre performers want nothing
more than to entertain us” The Times.
Cast:
Benjamin Cox (on piano)
Jenny Grove
Susanna Giustiniani
Jessica Sedler
Rebecca Shanks
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Sunday 19th July 2026 at 3pm.
Tickets: £17.75.
Ticket link: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/therubydolls/2200725
Venue: The Old Joint Stock Theatre, 4 Temple Row W, Birmingham B2 5N
Trigger warnings: historical murder references.
Insta: @the_ruby_dolls
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