The Children's Hour by Lillian Hellman in The Forge

Set in 1930s America, two women run a boarding school for girls. After a malicious pupil starts a rumour about their relationship, the prevailing conservative society soon turns the rumour into a scandal. As the young girl comes to understand the power she wields, she sticks by her story, which precipitates tragedy for the women. The women attempt to save their reputation – but how irreparable is the damage that has been done? Lillian Hellman’s award-winning play has been revived many times both on Broadway and in the West End and was filmed in 1961 as well as being adapted for radio in 1971 and for TV in 2021