The Sadista Sisters were a British feminist cabaret and rock collective active from 1974 to 1987. Founded by Jude Alderson, Teresa D’Abreu and songwriter Jacky Tayler, the group combined political satire, theatrical performance and original music to challenge societal norms around gender and sexuality. Their debut LP The Sadista Sisters was released in 1976 on Transatlantic Records, and their live shows—often staged in clubs, theatres and festivals—were known for their provocative humour, surreal costumes and Brechtian influences.
The group’s ever-changing lineup included future members of Girlschool, The Slits, The Tourists and Au Pairs. Dave Stewart of Eurythmics played guitar for them in 1977, and they received Arts Council funding for productions such as Duchess (1979) and Red Door Without a Bolt (1981). Their final major show, Madonna in Slag City (1986), was a tribute to the women of Greenham Common and featured a cast of 17. Though never a mainstream chart act, the Sadista Sisters were a vital part of the UK’s alternative theatre and music scene, remembered for their anarchic spirit and unapologetic feminism.
