Woman On Fire
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Hi - thanks for visiting my GoFundme page. 'Woman On Fire' is a new, original play by the highly-acclaimed, Certain Curtain Theatre , that takes you into the fiery heart of one of the most dangerous, strange and 'modern-women', in history. By turns, funny, sad, tense and outrageous - but always utterly compelling - 'Woman On Fire' separates the myth from the truth, to leave you amazed..and moved...
The Edinburgh Fringe Festival during August is an ideal place to showcase this brand new play and gain media and industry attention for our work. The fund is to cover the basic costs of taking a show to Edinburgh. Venue hire, publicity, travel, registration with the Festival. We operate without any funding whatsoever so every penny counts. If I'm lucky enough to beat my target this will mean I can also cover rehearsal costs.
The story of Edith Rigby remains largely unsung. Overshadowed by the more vociferous Pankhurst
women, Edith nursed a quiet fire. Yet, inside this calm, affable doctor's daughter, raged a flame that burned white-hot - against social injustice and a political system that denied women their most basic human right - the right to be treated as citizens, in their own land - by denying them the right to vote.
Born in Pole Street, Preston's very own 'East End' in 1872, she quickly noticed the differences between her life as a doctor's daughter and those of her poorer neighbours. She gazed, narrowly, toward the affluent denizens of prosperous Winckley Square and decided something was terribly wrong. As a schoolgirl, she vowed that she would fight injustice, wherever she saw it and devoted her life to doing just that. She founded a ' night-school' for working girls, in 1899 and campaigned, tirelessly, for better conditions, in mill and factory - and often won!
In 1893, she married Dr Charles Rigby, going on to adopt a son - but domestic bliss could not contain her mercurial nature. Cut by her friends, condemned by her family and shunned by her neighbours, for her 'bizarre' behaviour, Edith became a woman of 'firsts.' She was the first woman, in Preston, to ride a bicycle - in bloomers! - much to the horror of onlookers - even her vicar - who feared for her very soul. She founded Preston's first branch of 'The Women's Social and Political Union' and a branch of The Women's Institute. She was one of the first members of the Independent Labour Party ( from which she was later expelled!)
She became friends with 'notorious' Suffragette, Christabel Pankhurst and joined the 'suffrage movement', where her exploits became the stuff of legend. Jailed, at least six times, for 'terrorist attacks', her litany of crimes, is almost beyond belief; vandalising Lord Derby's statue with tar, bombing the Liverpool Cotton Exchange, burning down a wealthy man's hunting lodge - even the storming of Parliament itself! - And much, much more! This outrageous, extraordinary woman's life seems more myth than truth. But is it true?
I'm sure you'll agree Edith's is a story worth sharing I do hope you can help us make it happen and even come and see it! We plan on having a preview performance for supporters in Preston Lancashire before we set-off for Edinburgh so do get in touch if you'd like to come!! We'd love you to!
The Edinburgh Fringe Festival during August is an ideal place to showcase this brand new play and gain media and industry attention for our work. The fund is to cover the basic costs of taking a show to Edinburgh. Venue hire, publicity, travel, registration with the Festival. We operate without any funding whatsoever so every penny counts. If I'm lucky enough to beat my target this will mean I can also cover rehearsal costs.
The story of Edith Rigby remains largely unsung. Overshadowed by the more vociferous Pankhurst
women, Edith nursed a quiet fire. Yet, inside this calm, affable doctor's daughter, raged a flame that burned white-hot - against social injustice and a political system that denied women their most basic human right - the right to be treated as citizens, in their own land - by denying them the right to vote.
Born in Pole Street, Preston's very own 'East End' in 1872, she quickly noticed the differences between her life as a doctor's daughter and those of her poorer neighbours. She gazed, narrowly, toward the affluent denizens of prosperous Winckley Square and decided something was terribly wrong. As a schoolgirl, she vowed that she would fight injustice, wherever she saw it and devoted her life to doing just that. She founded a ' night-school' for working girls, in 1899 and campaigned, tirelessly, for better conditions, in mill and factory - and often won!
In 1893, she married Dr Charles Rigby, going on to adopt a son - but domestic bliss could not contain her mercurial nature. Cut by her friends, condemned by her family and shunned by her neighbours, for her 'bizarre' behaviour, Edith became a woman of 'firsts.' She was the first woman, in Preston, to ride a bicycle - in bloomers! - much to the horror of onlookers - even her vicar - who feared for her very soul. She founded Preston's first branch of 'The Women's Social and Political Union' and a branch of The Women's Institute. She was one of the first members of the Independent Labour Party ( from which she was later expelled!)
She became friends with 'notorious' Suffragette, Christabel Pankhurst and joined the 'suffrage movement', where her exploits became the stuff of legend. Jailed, at least six times, for 'terrorist attacks', her litany of crimes, is almost beyond belief; vandalising Lord Derby's statue with tar, bombing the Liverpool Cotton Exchange, burning down a wealthy man's hunting lodge - even the storming of Parliament itself! - And much, much more! This outrageous, extraordinary woman's life seems more myth than truth. But is it true?
I'm sure you'll agree Edith's is a story worth sharing I do hope you can help us make it happen and even come and see it! We plan on having a preview performance for supporters in Preston Lancashire before we set-off for Edinburgh so do get in touch if you'd like to come!! We'd love you to!
Organizer
Claire Moore
Organizer
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