When Hull Playwright Val Holmes, wrote this play in 2011 about Lillian Bilocca, she felt the power of the sacrifice and life changing effects that Lil’s actions took. Researching her life through personal interviews with Lil’s family and friends, she believed that her courage, stoicism and downright unwillingness to give in, could be the inspiration for a new generation.

A generation who live more naturally in a media conscious and celebrity obsessed culture, yet still lack the role models depicted by this down-to-earth woman from Hull, who decide to ‘stand up’ to some of the most powerful men of the time. For those with some memory of that time, the play reflects the progress made by strong women’s voices in both the workplace and wider society.

“This play was the culmination of a period of writing and exploring the humour that often occurs when people are faced with tragedy. As a retired Nursing Ward Manager, I witnessed the same bravery and fortitude in patients facing life changing illnesses and the death of loved ones. It is not a solely Hull trait, but it exists here in a unique and poignant way.

In three weeks the triple trawler tragedy took it’s fishing community into the depths of despair. Yet out of that, arose a powerful, emboldened reaction not to be quashed.

This at a time when the pressure of media attention had it’s cruel price to pay. I hope both men and women will appreciate being witness to the actions of this extraordinarily strong, Hull woman.” VAL HOLMES.

I created THE LIL DRAMA COMPANY brand (now rolled into PAD Productions) for Val and I to manage the financial, administration, legal, IP protection and production of this story. And we set about making plans to find the local cast and crew up for the challenge. 

The project demanded an extensive branding, marketing and promotional campaign across social media, press and radio over many, many months, as it was entirely internally funded.

Including forming the forty strong, promotional volunteer community group.. LIL’s LASSES from scratch to connect face to face with the local people.

The highly successful final production was a very large concern, which we think did LIL’s story justice. (Very suitable for established companies and well funded theatre groups – call us!) 

My interest since then has been in a proposed smaller version but with enhanced digital imagery, effects and even an original music score. That could be fully costed and funded as a professional performance, rewarding all those involved.

The basis of which a new script has now been created by Val in 2025.

Meaning development can begin again, but in two ways;

One in a simple, script-in-hand, story-telling format, led primarily by Val, with half the main cast members (with some dual roles), with no props, costumes, lighting or sound effects, aimed at smaller, flexible venues. 

Trialed in various venues in the local area, as and when the volunteers and cast participants can be engaged. 

Leaving PAD Productions to look at licensing the original full play and developing/funding the more enhanced, reduced version for the future application of our intellectual property rights going forward.

Keeping this important Hull story alive and more widely seen in the public eye.

A living testament to LIL’s life.

 The play ran for a week in November 2017 and made enough to run again in March 2018, to many 000’s of people over at ‘Jubilee Central’ in Hull’s city centre.

 Our mention at the 2017 UK City of Culture Launch event: “Tell the World” @ the Dock.

 A bit of history was made when our LIL’S LASSES turned out at Hull City’s KC Stadium on the 6th March 2018 Hull /Millwall game. When both sets of fans unexpectedly rose from their seats and applauded as they passed by in remembrance of the men lost in the Triple Trawler Tragedy 50 years ago.