Scary Little Girls

A celebration of the work of the Actresses’ Franchise League commission by Aurora Metro Press and The Orange Tree theatre.  Read on for full background information on this exciting project, followed by photographs of the performance and sound samples from suffragist plays.

Saturday 10th January 2009, 11am - 2pm

At the behest of Aurora Metro Press and The Orange Tree, Richmond, Scary Little Girls and Naomi Paxton produced a series of staged readings of work by the Actresses’ Franchise League.  These readings supporting talks from leading academics and theatre practitioners and celebrated the launch of a book of the plays, many of which have never been published before.

In December 1908, the AFL launched themselves onto the political stage with their satirical sketches, comic monologues and powerful plays. Their campaigning work,  performed all over the country from village halls to West End theatres, challenged the status quo and the chaste conventions of the Edwardian Stage.

These heroines, who included such enormous names as Ellen Terry amongst their number, showed bravery, imagination and wit in their campaigning and their plays movingly reflect this.

The book’s editor Dr Susan Croft opened the event and Mary McCusker, founder member of Monstrous Regiment Theatre Company, provided the closing speech of the day.

Keep an eye on this page to see more about these readings and some accompanying workshop projects throughout the year.  Or contact us on suffragette@scarylittlegirls.co.uk if you would like to discuss bringing any of this work to you!

Research suffragette history in your area and contribute to the educational website at www.suffragette.org.uk

Buy your copy of the plays by going to www.aurorametro.com or contacting aidan@aurorametro.com/
Aidan Jenkins 020 3261 000 at Aurora Metro.

Check out the other events, show and seminars held at the Orange Tree Theatre at www.orangetreetheatre.co.uk.

Some photos of the readings:

And from rehearsals: