Press & Media Releases

From suffragettes to Margaret Thatcher and beyond

 
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A century ago thousands of women marched across Britain to Hyde Park in London as part of the Great Suffrage Pilgrimage.  A group of South West women walked from Land’s End, sharing the journey with others, holding meetings and rallies and recruiting for the cause. They stopped at places along route in order to campaign for the vote.

A panel discussion about women’s rights from 1913 to the present day is being hosted by the University of Exeter in collaboration with the Exeter Northcott Theatre on Thursday 23 May at 7pm.  

As part of the event there will be a sneak preview of a new play that follows in the footsteps of the women who walked the South West route.  It’s called Oxygen, and has been specially commissioned by Dreadnought South West Association a new organisation working with arts and heritage to champion women’s voices and stories.  Written by Natalie McGrath, and directed by Josie Sutcliffe the Arts Council of England funded play, celebrates the centenary of The Great 1913 Suffrage Pilgrimage.

The death of Margaret Thatcher also gives a special urgency to the question of how much progress women have made and will form part of the debate which is anticipated to have some lively audience participation.  Professor Helen Taylor co-organiser of the event explains the intention of the debate.  She said:“This is a wonderful collaboration between the Exeter Northcott, Dreadnought South West and the University’s College of Humanities, to celebrate the role Cornish and Devonian women have played in a century of struggle for women’s political, social and economic rights.”

Feminist broadcaster, writer and critic Bidisha will be in the Chair and other speakers will include Historian and cultural commentator Rachel Holmes (co-editor of the new collection, 50 Shades of Feminism), and Exeter-based community historian Julia Neville, whose research on woman suffrage initially informed the play, which is due to be toured in June and July .Professor Michelle Ryan from the University of Exeter is one of two psychologists to define the “glass cliff”, a situation in which women and other minorities are likely to be placed in leadership positions that are risky or precarious.  

While much has changed for women since the time of the suffrage social change has been incredibly variable across different spheres of social life according to Professor Ryan.  She said: “While women have, for a long time, represented 50% of employees, they are still woefully represented in prestigious professions and powerful leadership roles. Change in these areas has moved with glacial slowness, and indeed at this rate it may be close to 80 years before we reach equality in these areas.”

Julia Neville’s research into the Devon suffragists who helped organise and galvanise women who walked the South West route of the pilgrimage to London to address the issues of ending child poverty, stopping the white slave trade and ending sweated labour. They recognised that change could only be addressed if women had the right to vote, hence their rally to recruit and to be heard in the face of opposition.  Playwright McGrath said:“ I saw a sepia photograph of a group of women holding a banner saying, ‘National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies – Land’s End to London’. I wondered who they were and the idea of forming an organisation, grew out of the desire to honour and celebrate the voices and achievement of these women – we hope to do the same with many more women in the future”.

The debate: ‘Pilgrim’s Progress? From Suffragettes to Margaret Thatcher and Beyond’ is at the Exeter Northcott Theatr.  Tickets can be bought via the Box Office (01392 493493) and the Exeter Northcott Theatre website.

ENDS

Editors Notes:

See www.dreadnoughtsouthwest.org.uk for tickets and tour schedule

About the University of Exeter

The Sunday Times University of the Year 2012-13, the University of Exeter is a Russell Group university and in the top one percent of institutions globally. It combines world-class research with very high levels of student satisfaction. Exeter has over 18,000 students and is ranked 7th in The Sunday Times University Guide, 10th in the UK in The Times Good University Guide 2012 and 10th in the Guardian University Guide. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 90% of the University’s research was rated as being at internationally recognised levels and 16 of its 31 subjects are ranked in the top 10, with 27 subjects ranked in the top 20.

The University has invested strategically to deliver more than £350 million worth of new facilities across its campuses for 2012, including landmark new student services centres - the Forum in Exeter and The Exchange in Cornwall - and world-class new facilities for Biosciences, the Business School and the Environment and Sustainability Institute.

www.exeter.ac.uk

For further information:

University of Exeter

Press Office

+44 (0)1392 722307

pressoffice@exeter.ac.uk

Travelling Light presents an East London Dance, Sadler’s Wells and Stratford Circus production

                     Tues 28 May 3pm & 7pm

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There was once only the sound of bees and the wind in the wiry grass, the low murmuring of moles in the cool dark earth, and the song of birds in the high blue sky.

Varmints, a rich visual piece of original dance theatre for young people aged 8 and their families, comes to the Exeter Northcott Theatre for two performances in May.

Based on the award-winning book Varmints by Helen Ward and Marc Craste, this production is a poignant tale of a world which is buried under the relentless march of progress. Every day the city grows larger and the noise grows louder, until there is so much noise that no-one can hear themselves think. This exhilarating new dance-theatre performance explores the struggles of one small creature to preserve a world in danger of being lost forever.

Sally Cookson specialises in children’s theatre productions, and has recently enjoyed a five star run at Bristol Old Vic with Christmas hit Peter Pan. Sally and Sadler’s Wells New Wave Associate Wilkie Branson are reunited after working together on highly acclaimed dance show BOING!, which performed to rave reviews and full houses at Sadler’s Wells over Christmas 2011 and again in 2012. The rich and diverse soundtrack is composed and performed by musician and composer Benji Bower who regularly collaborates with Sally.

Emma Gladstone, Sadler’s Wells’ Artistic Producer says about Varmints:

“We have been developing this show for a while, and so I cannot quite believe we have finally got to the point of starting in. I am genuinely excited by the artists involved and in particular where Choreographer Wilkie Branson and Director Sally Cookson decide to take the intriguing story, after their previous hits together. For me its essential for us to commission new work for young audiences like this, work that’s contemporary, and inviting, with high production values.”

“Utterly dazzling.. rumbustious, exhilarating dance theatre, enrapturing for children and adults alike”
The Guardian


“Poetic, moving, witty and wonderful!”  Venue Magazine

Press reviews on Sally’s and Wilkie’s most recent collaboration BOING!

Tickets: £12.50
Concs: £2 off
Family Ticket: £30 for 3 + up to 3 more £10 each
Schools: £7.50 for groups 10+
Student Standby: £8
Age: 8yrs+
Running Time: TBC
Post Show Talk: Tues 28 May 7pm
Book Online: www.exeternorthcott.co.uk
Box Office: 01392 493 493

-ends-
For more information, please contact Jenny Hogg on 01392 223 989 or email her at j.l.hogg@exeter.ac.uk

Notes to Editors

Discover Varmints can be accessible from 17th May 2013 on http://discovervarmints.com/.

Varmints is supported by Arts Council England, Bristol Old Vic and Pavilion Dance South West, with additional support from the Unity Theatre Trust and The Legacy List.

The Legacy List was set up in 2011 to help make creative connections between people, the future Queen Elizabeth Olympic park and its surroundings in the areas of arts, culture, education and skills.

Travelling Light

Travelling Light has been creating exciting and ground-breaking theatre and inspiring young people since 1984, when it was founded in Bristol. The company combines a variety of art forms and collaborates with other companies and theatres to produce innovative work that tours throughout UK and abroad.

Sadler’s Wells

The UK's leading dance house, uniquely dedicated to producing, commissioning, and presenting the very best international and UK dance to London audiences. Under the Artistic Directorship of Alistair Spalding the theatre’s cutting edge programme spans dance in all its forms, from contemporary to flamenco, Bollywood to ballet, salsa to street dance and tango to tap.

Stratford Circus

Stratford Circus is a vibrant performing arts centre driven by great artistic experiences and the diverse communities of east London, dedicated to inspire audiences and develop local talent by working with the best UK and international artists.

East London Dance

East London Dance works to develop a dynamic, diverse and inclusive dance culture for communities and artists across, and beyond, East London. ELD works to promote the value of dance in developing healthy, cohesive communities, encouraging access to dance for all, regardless of ability or age.

Creative Team and Cast

Director – Sally Cookson
Choreographer – Wilkie Branson

Set and Costume Designer – Holly Waddington
Lighting Designer – Guy Hoare
Composer – Benji Bower
Dramaturg – Adam Peck
Projection Designer – Yoav Segal
Performers – Wilkie Branson, Mariana Camiloti, Femi M Oyewole, Letitia Simpson