Play Details
Context
Artistic Director
Ian Rickson
Part of
Playwrights’ Playwrights
Dates Performed
Tuesday 1st June 1999
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs
Play Details
Synopsis
England, 1907, amidst the fervour of the suffrage movement.
Vida Levering, a passionate activist, returns after a decade-long absence to confront her past and champion the cause of women’s suffrage in Elizabeth Robins’ groundbreaking play, Votes for Women. Set against the backdrop of upper-class society and the bustling streets of London, the story begins in the elegant Wynnstay House, where Vida reenters high society and encounters influential figures, including her former lover, Geoffrey Stonor, now engaged to the naive Jean Dunbarton. As Vida persuades Jean to join the suffrage cause, their shared experiences highlight the injustices faced by women.
Votes for Women crescendos with a powerful suffrage rally in Trafalgar Square, capturing the dynamic energy and heated debates of the time. Robins’s work, inspired by her own activism, is celebrated for its realistic dialogue and forceful argument for women’s rights, addressing issues such as illegal abortion and unmarried motherhood. Through Vida’s journey from personal tragedy to public advocacy, the play vividly dramatises the struggles and aspirations of the suffragette movement, offering a compelling portrayal of a pivotal moment in the fight for gender equality.