Press
Press and Praise for MONUMENTAL (2025)
Laverne Edwards as Elizabeth Meta Wiskemann © F-Bomb Theatre
The Scotsman , “Outdoor theatre show to celebrate Edinburgh’s overlooked ‘real life heroines’” - “Ms Schaffer said: “To me, telling the stories of some of Edinburgh’s most influential women means getting to explore forgotten moments in time and bring them to light for people to see.
"Many people don’t know about the women we are researching despite the fact that they were revolutionary. I am looking forward to changing that.” - Brian Ferguson
The Sunday Post, “Monumental: Playwrights unite to address the lack of statues of women in Edinburgh” - “Writer Emery Schaffer also found a poignant personal connection to the story of the University of Edinburgh’s first female professor, Elizabeth Wiskemann…I was so excited to dive into the story of a woman who helped the people I came from.” - Ross Crae
A Young(ish) Perspective, “Review: Monumental (****)“ - “A notable standout performance is by Laverne Edmonds as Elizabeth Wiskemann, an English journalist who helped spread the word about the horrors perpetrated by the Nazis during the Holocaust and went on to become the first female chair of a subject at Edinburgh University. Emery Schaffer’s writing, combined with Edmonds’ warm maternal air, seeps into each fold of your brain and bleeds emotion into your heart”. - Robyn Yarwood
The Skinny, “Monumental: The new show commemorating Edinburgh's invisible women”
Praise for We Used To Be Girl Scouts (2024)
****
“Schaffer is dealing with serious themes here and clearly recognises that there’s no emotions so big as the ones you encounter in adolescence but she also acknowledges the boundless optimism and sense of fun that’s part and parcel of the experience.
” Rory Ford, The Scotsman
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****
“This is an evocation of teenage pain and joy that is both serious and funny. And the reason the characters end up speaking for others is because they are speaking for themselves.”
Hugh Simpson, All Edinburgh Theatre
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*****
“…Schaffer’s writing is rich and lyrical. The confessional monologues from the characters border on spoken word poetry. The dialogue is playful, biting, and dances into the ear. Schaffer’s script is transportative and enchanting, as well as being deeply intelligent and unafraid of shying away from life’s harsh realities. “
C.C. Ford, Lexical Lunacy
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Praise for I Hope It All Burns (2022)
“Emery Schaffer’s bristling 45 minute play I Hope It All Burns premiered at The Barron in the Byre Studio recently under the expert guidance of director Vee Campbell. With a restrained set and costume design and distinct artistic choices, I Hope It All Burns offers an immersive theatrical experience, one which embarks on a beautifully tender yet ferocious emotional experience.”
Caroline Burnham, HerCampus
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Praise for A My Name Is Allison (2020)
“A My Name is Allison packs a lot into its well-paced one-hour running time. It is hilarious and melancholy, sweet and surprising, and never less than wholly entertaining. You'll never see board game night the same way again.”
John R. Ziegler and Leah Richards ,Thinking Theatre NYC
Read the entire review here.