Edith Rigby - A day for a Suffragette!

Edith Rigby Day announced

Certain Curtain Theatre Company has designated an Edith Rigby Day for Preston’s own unsung Suffragette to celebrate her tenacity and to raise awareness of her achievements and those of her fellow suffragettes. The date 18^th October 2018 would have been Edith’s 146^th Birthday and will be the first of many, says Claire Moore, who plays Edith in the play.

2018 is the vote 100 Centenary celebrating the first women to have won the right to vote in the UK. The company is working with Cinema For All, a national support and development organisation for community-led cinema and the Harris museum to celebrate the centenary with the theme of Born A Rebel and have a wonderful evening of film, theatre, discussion, and cake planned! Plus a Free Children's comic book workshop with Mayamada.

Cinema For All are holding five events across the North celebrating the centenary of women’s suffrage and Preston is the first.

Join us for a wonderful one-woman play WOMAN ON FIRE from Certain Curtain Theatre Company about the life of Preston’s own legendary suffragette: Edith Rigby, along with a post show discussion with the Writer, director and actor.

‘I’ve played many characters on stage but Edith is a truly wonderful woman to portray. Not a fictional character but a real women from History and to try to bring her to life on stage is a real challenge and delight.’ says Claire ‘I’ve enjoyed playing Edith more than any other character in my career’

‘Certain Curtain Theatre Company intends to hold an Edith Rigby Day on 18^th October, every year until a statue is erected to this amazing woman – involving performances of Woman On Fire and other exciting events around it.’ adds John Woudberg, writer/director. ‘Edith was more than an inspirational suffragette, she was a philanthropist and fought for better working conditions for women and girls right here in Preston. She is deserving of every accolade due to any famous Prestonian. Before I started to research this play I knew nothing about the suffragettes and it’s been a wonderful journey exploring these tenacious women from history. How they fought, not just for themselves but for future generations. It’s a privilege to honour them through theatre and share their HERstory!’

Accompanying the performance will be a fantastic new short film – commissioned by Cinema for All from the Yorkshire, North East and North West Film Archives – that charts the story of women in British public life over the last 100 years.

Oriana Franceschi, Vote 100 Project Officer for Cinema For All said 'Our new short film, Vote 100: Born a Rebel is an inspiring reminder that in the century since the first British woman stepped into the ballot box, their fight for equality has never ceased. In Born a Rebel, we see women take up tools in support of the war effort, and all of the other societal changes, big and small, that gradually also changed hearts.’ Adding ‘We are proud to include Certain Curtain's wonderful production, we hope to inspire girls and women across the North of England and beyond to rebel, protest, and continue the fight for women's rights. AKA, human rights'

The play is suitable for adults and young people aged 14 and over. During the play there will be a Children’s workshop. Cinema For All have collaborated with Manga pros Mayamada to run a free workshop, at which kids can turn their favourite characters from the women’s suffrage movement into the stars of their own comic book! The workshop will be suitable for all ages.

The event will take place at The Harris, Preston, on the evening of what would have been Edith's 146th birthday: Thursday 18 October.

Also included in your ticket price will be a cream tea!

Tickets cost £7 / £5 concession and can be purchased here: https://vote100preston.eventbrite.co.uk

Vote 100: Born a Rebel is supported by the Women’s Vote Centenary Grant Scheme