The centenary of some women being given the vote with a rousing show of songs and plays written by actual members of the Suffrage Movement more than 100 years ago, entitled Faith and Daring, is coming to the stage by the Company of Ten.

Best remembered are the Suffragettes and their sometimes violent acts of civil disobedience, but the Movement was made up of many, more peaceful societies all actively campaigning for the franchise. Included were groups of women writers and actresses who used their professional skills to devise entertaining plays, sketches and songs to get across the Suffrage message, often using humour to expose the weaknesses of their opponents’ arguments.

For the show’s compiler and co-director Angela Stone it is a delight to immerse herself in the authentic words and sentiments of women fighting so long ago for a right we now take for granted. Especially as many of those campaigners were willing to put their lives on the line to win women a voice at the ballot box.

Angela says: “Short plays, such as the ones we will be performing, toured the country between 1908 and 1913, and aimed to highlight the absurdity of denying women the vote. By portraying women of all classes, they hoped to show the relevance and benefit of equal franchise to society as a whole. Although this was ultimately achieved in 1918, many of the issues raised in the plays are sadly still being fought over today.”

Performances of Faith and Daring will take place in the Abbey Theatre studio on Thursday, July 19 to Saturday, July 21 at 8pm. To book tickets go to abbeytheatre.org.uk or call the box office on 01727 857861.