Narrator

Speaker on soap box

2 wardresses

1 prisoner

Emily Moorhead

Paper boy

The remainder of the cast or ‘chorus’ is divided into 2 parts as follows:

1 section dressed as working class women (see notes on costume)

1 section dressed as well off women

The chorus includes 3 well off women carrying placards, they are identified as A, B or C.

1 well off woman leading the Derby Day spectators identified as DD

2 well off women identified as G and H

2 well off women look outs identified as J and K

Working woman identified as WW

Banners carried by A, B and C.

Front DEEDS NOT WORDS

Reverse: ANNIE KENNEY

FIGHT ON AND GOD WILL GIVE US VICTORY.

Reverse EMMELINE PANKHURST.

ARISE, GO FORTH AND CONQUER

Reverse CHRISTABEL PANKHURST.

Newsboy’s placard:

Front WOMAN KILLED BY KING’S HORSE

Reverse OVER 1,000 SUFFRAGETTES GAOLED.

1 Soap box

For the prison scene:

1 chair, towel, jug, funnel, rubber tube.

This short play is set in 1913 and the costumes can be quite simply devised. The general shape is a modified ‘A’ line.

The working women wear shabby skirts of a dark colour, with a plain blouse, some with sleeves rolled up. A few wear aprons. A large warm shawl is worn over the head, fastened under the chin. Black stockings or tights with black shoes, not obviously modern

The well off women should have skirts in similar shape, perhaps of richer material in colours such as purple, blue or grey. They wear smarter b1ouses, with brooches fastening them high at the neck, or chokers. Jewellery, fur stoles or jackets can be worn and all wear hats and gloves. Long petticoats make the skirts hang better. The hats are not the huge affairs fashionable earlier in the century, so almost any style can be adapted, mostly worn straight on the forehead. Veils and feathers add a period look.

The speaker on the soap box could wear a woman’s cap, long skirt and blouse as the other working women, plus a long apron.

The newspaper boy should wear old patched trousers or long shorts, an old shirt, a cap and thick socks with old boots or shoes.

The wardresses wear long black skirts, white high necked shirts with black tie and a wide belt with keys and/or handcuffs hanging from it. On the head a black bonnet made of cotton with the crown gathered into a wide flat band. Wide white starched cotton strings tied in a large bow to one side of the chin. Black tights and flat shoes.

The prisoner wears a black blouse with the cell number pinned on it, a black skirt, a white half apron with broad arrows painted on it. On the head a white hat similar to those worn by the wardresses, black tights and shoes. Make up pale with dark smudges around the eyes.

Spectacles of a modern design should not be worn.