Rugby league REF! film at Stockton Heath Library

Calling all rugby league fans! Don’t miss the screening of REF! at Stockton Heath Library on Friday 11th November at 7pm.

The film tells the story of Julia Lee, the first woman to referee a men’s rugby league game. Julia was “dared for a fiver” to first have a go at refereeing rugby league in the 1980s and she never looked back.

Book via the library – tickets just £3 including Q&A with Julia Lee, or via Culture Warrington.

Julia Lee, born and bred in Hull was one of the first female referees to referee men’s match both in England and in Australia. The play ‘Ref’ inspired by Julia’s life story, was written following a chance meeting with playwright, Sarah Jane Dickenson.

Based on a true story REF tells the heart warming, humorous story of Alexs fight to become one of the first women rugby league referees in Britain to be in charge of men’s matches.

Moving from the 1980’s to the present REF charts the story of Alex’s rise from a kid obsessed with watching the game to her tussles and triumphs to be totally involved, in charge right in the middle of the game. This is a universal story of how a woman – against the odds – determinedly proves she is not a victim – but a survivor.