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09/05/2018

Preview: Suffragette at Newcastle Alphabetti

Four new short plays inspired by the women’s fight for equality, and a staged reading of “How the Vote Was Won” from 1909.

Coracle Productions in partnership with Alphabetti Theatre,
 supported by the Newcastle Culture Investment Fund Presents
Suffragette
Short plays from today and 100 years ago
Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre
Thursday 17 – Saturday 19 May 2018


1918: The first election in which women could vote in the UK.
But not all women. The journey towards equality continues 100 years later.

Coracle put a call out for short plays inspired by any aspect of the Suffragette movement, and they received 40 applications from as far afield as New Zealand and America. Three of these plays have been selected to be performed alongside a staged reading of an original ‘Suffrage play’ from 100 years ago, and a new piece by Arabella Arnott.

Director: Rachael Walsh
"How The Vote Was Won" by Cicely Hamilton and Christopher St John (1909)
Presented by special arrangement with Samuel French Ltd.
A staged reading directed by Rachael Walsh

The Government says that women do not need votes as they are all “looked after by their male relatives”….Horace Cole is about to discover just how many female relatives he has…
Performed as a staged reading by the full company.

Plus 4 new short plays directed by Matt Jamie

Lucy Curry and Daniel Watson
"Banter" by Christopher Moore (Ireland)
Cast Lucy Curry and Daniel Watson

A brother and sister have different views about whether "a bit of banter" on WhatsApp is harmless fun, or something much darker.


"An Accident of Birth" by Lizi Patch (North Yorks)
Cast Jude Nelson and Adam Jordan Donaldson

Two siblings try to understand human relationships and gender roles through overheard conversations from inside the womb.

Arabella Arnott and Brogan Gilbert
"Women and Girls" by Allison Davies (North East)
Cast Arabella Arnott and Brogan Gilbert

Enough is enough is enough is enough. Imagine a change, an end, a shift. Imagine a mark... a cross in a box.

Zoe Lambert and Jackie Edwards
"Someone Had To Do Something" by Arabella Arnott (Newcastle)
Cast Zoe Lambert and Jackie Edwards

"In the true married relationship, the independence of husband and wife will be equal, their dependence mutual, and their obligations reciprocal" So said Lucretia Mott 100 years ago. How's that playing out in 2018...?  


Adam Jordan Donaldson, Arabella Arnott and Brogan Gilbert

 Director Matt Jamie explains:  “We had a great response to our call out for short plays – from first time writers to seasoned pros – people we knew and people from as far afield as New Zealand and America.  Themes ranged from historical pieces to works set in dystopian futures and everything in between.  It was a difficult process choosing the final pieces, and although geography wasn’t part of our selection process we’ve ended up with pieces written by northern (and Northern Irish) writers.  We’ve selected a collection which demonstrate different styles of writing, and cover some contemporary themes on the subject of equality.   Banter by Chrispher Moore is set in Ireland and explores the subject of different attitudes to ‘casual sex’ and ‘banter’ and the issue of the forthcoming referendum on the Eighth Amendment;   An Accident of Birth by Lizi Patch (writer of the recent Punching the Sky at Live Theatre) explores gender stereotypes and the complexities of adult relationships from the point of view of unborn sibling twins;  Women and Girls by Allison Davies (writer of Trade in development with ARC Stockton) is a poetic exploration of memories and experiences told through two women’s voices and conversations; and Someone Had To Do Something by Arabella Arnott (writer of Coracle’s Life After and Overdue) looks at a woman’s role in the domestic duties of the home – just how much have things moved on from 100 years ago? 

“As a new-writing company it might seem odd to present a play written 100 years ago, but we wanted to hear the voices of women writing at the time of the Suffrage movement and compare their approaches to new voices exploring the issues today.  How The Vote Was Won by Cicely Hamilton and Christopher St John, is a comical look at one man’s experience of what happens when the government claims that all women are supported by men, and the women decide to take that literally.
“We hope you enjoy this eclectic, occasionally challenging, and often funny collection of writing, and hope it sparks conversation and debate.”
“We’d recommend also catching some of Alphabetti’s “Women are Mint” evenings  (Fridays through June) – part gig, part conversation hosted by Martha Hill – see their website for more details”

About Coracle
Arabella Arnott and Brogan Gilbert
Coracle are company who produce new original works and collaborate with artists across all disciplines. Coracle’s debut in the north east was Trajectory – a double bill of new plays at Alphabetti in March 2017, followed by the critically acclaimed production of Overdue launching Alphabetti’s new venue in September 2017 – winner of the North East Theatre Guide’s “Best of Fringe 2017” and described as “Beautifully written, sensitively directed, the performances are excellent” by the British Theatre Guide.
Coracle are proud to be working alongside Alphabetti Theatre for the third time, and are supported by Community Foundation Tyne and Wear and the Newcastle Culture Investment Fund on this production Suffragette. 


On The Web:
Twitter: @coracleNE @alphabetti 

Tickets:
SUFFRAGETTE - Short plays from today and 100 years ago
When: Thursday 17 – Saturday 19 May 2018 at 7:30pm
Where: Alphabetti Theatre, St James’ Boulevard, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Tickets  PAY WHAT YOU FEEL – to reserve tickets please go to: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/event/237366

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