Programme by Jo Lumber for "Hear My Voice"

The wealth of talent. Jo L offered to write this for us and here it is a programme/information for 'Hear My Voice,' Jo also came up with the title.

‘Hear My Voice’ by Shallal Dance Theatre

Celebrating the Suffrage Movement. 

Premiered at St Peters Hall, Newlyn, 14^th December 2018

Creative Director - Jo Willis

Writing - Jo Lumber, Debbie O’ Nyons, Elaine Stammers.

Movement - devised by the company members through improvisation. 

Improvised Music - George Bradley-Peer

BSL Signing - Demelza Rouncefield

Extracts of Spoken Word

 ‘Our feet may be small but we stand tall together.

We shall march over miles so our strength can be seen.

Our voices have been stifled and silenced,

But now we project our opinions with conviction.

And we will continue until you take notice and take action.

Shall I speak louder?

Support the women’s suffrage movement.

Hear our voice, for we matter.’  Jo Lumber

‘I’m married’ he said, nothing to be done. His wife was also pregnant. I was cast aside, restricted by invisible chains wrought by fear and judgement.  The workhouse beckoned. The workhouse- you had to apply to enter, tell them about how you got pregnant, every detail, like you weren’t humiliated enough.’ Debbie O’Nyons

 ‘Listen, you can still hear the sounds of women’s shoes,

 marching, tramping, 

stepping onwards through the years.

Sisters, don’t forget to tell your daughters,

sons as well,

of the journey that they trod,

our feet still dancing to that beat,

wanting to be counted one by one.’ Elaine Stammers

Background information

We were given the task of creating a performance piece to commemorate the 100^th anniversary of the first group of women to obtain the vote. Many of us were aware of the upcoming centenary in December 2018, as it had generated much press coverage, termed the 1918 Representation of the People Act. But what we didn’t know was that just a small amount of women were given this right. Those women were over thirty years of age, registered property holders, or the wives of men who were registered property owners. Despite this elitist invitation favouring just the privileged in society, it was a positive step forward for women. There was change for the male population too. Now, all men aged over the age of 21, regardless of class, were allowed to vote. 

This change was highly influenced by the loss of so many men in the First World War, for In 1910 just 60 per cent of men were eligible to vote, based on wealth and status.

It had taken decades of determination to reach this point; The National Society for Women’s Suffrage had begun in 1872. Women throughout the country rallied together in solidarity for the cause. Cornish women undertook a gruelling and powerful mission known as ‘The Great Suffragists Pilgrimage March’ from Lands End to London in 1913.  There were two movements, with differing approaches, campaigning for all women to have the vote, plus other issues of social justice such as child poverty and poor working conditions.

The Suffragettes 

The Women’s Social and Political Union favoured direct action to force the issue of votes for women. They chose to use drastic measures including vandalism of property and hunger strike in prison, to draw attention to the injustice that allowed the law to be based upon the views of men only.  ‘The Suffragettes’ were known through Emmeline Pankhurst, who when imprisoned for her actions saw it as publicity for the cause, and Emily Davison, who died on Derby Day 1913 when she stepped boldly onto the race track. The Suffragettes wore sashes and ribbons in green, purple and white.

The Suffragists 

The National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies, ‘The Suffragists’, championed the continuation of non-violent protests and petitions that had started in the 1870s. They used peaceful tactics; rallies, marches and petitions. Millicent Fawcett was the face of The Suffragists. Their colours of identity were red, green and white.

It took a further ten years for all women over the age of 21 to be granted the right to vote in 1928. 

Jo Lumber

The Salvation Army and The Suffrage Movement - Debbie 0’Nyons

The Salvation Army were highly active and supportive of the social reforms the suffragettes offered to women, as they were leading on changing the way unwed mothers were treated in the workhouses within the county.  Without the suffragettes my great grandmother would not have survived for long.

The Salvation Army enthusiastically supported this political campaign, its philanthropic and egalitarian ideologies attracted followers with values that strongly complimented those that motivated the first wave feminist suffrage campaign. The Salvation Army also promoted gender equality within the organisation.  

                           HEAR OUR VOICE, FOR WE MATTER

  Special thanks to: Delpha Hudson and The Hypatia Trust for research information and support, St Peters Church Hall in Newlyn, Henrietta Boex, Sara Baistrocchi, Falmouth Town Council and Lou Brett.