Three one-act plays celebrating women’s suffrage; a riotous, heartfelt journey through the century since we were first trusted with a tiny pencil and the privacy of the polling booth.
Three plays came together to create our sell-out evening of theatre at Southwark Playhouse that explored 100 years of women’s suffrage – from explosive munitions factories in WW1 to the flour-bombs of the 1970 Miss World Contest to the challenges faced by young women today.
A Little Light Housekeeping
Letty pays a personal price for campaigning for the right to vote. Confronted with the hardships faced by unmarried mothers, can she find the strength to keep fighting? Inspired by a true story.
The Flour Girls
It’s London, 1970, the year British feminism flour-bombed itself into existence at the Miss World contest. The Flour Girls is a surreal comedy that follows the stories of two bags of flour, who become part of this one, eventful evening. This piece incorporates verbatim recordings from the contest itself.
Land Of The Free
I’m tired, you’re tired, we’re all tired. But have we come this far only to come this far? Land Of The Free looks to the next 100 years and what it takes to keep on fighting for equality.
Roar: Because if you’re going to produce your first ever theatre piece why not make it an evening of three different plays, with an overall cast of team of over twenty people, including three directors. To say this was learning curve is a bit of an understatement, but what we mostly learned was that we love creating the opportunity for other creative people to do their thing. Plus, don’t accidentally pack your coat (with house keys in pocket) in with the costumes and have it sent away in a van. An absolute riot that sold out the large space at Southwark Playhouse.
A Little Light Housekeeping
Directed by Anne Fortune
Anne-Louise Fortune is a Director, Producer, Writer and theatre practitioner. Anne’s theatre-making combines her thirst for world travel with the stories which emerge from important moments in social history. In autumn 2017 she directed and produced the English premiere of an Australian play, “Murder at Warrabah House”. In September 2018 she returned to university to study for an MA in World Theatres at Goldsmiths University in New Cross, London. Anne’s initial experience in theatre was as an actor and a technician in school musicals and plays. Following university, she worked at Butlin’s Pwllheli in North Wales and the Preston Charter Theatre. A career as a solicitor followed for over a decade, during which Anne progressed to a management role, before reverting to her first-choice career within performing and creative arts. Since 2015 she has directed new writing, adaptations and revivals at venues across the north-west of England.
Letty: Flora Ogilvy
Flora Ogilvy is represented by Lola Williams at New Wonder Management. She trained as an actress at Oxford School of Drama and has a degree in Writing, Directing & Performance from York University. As well as professional actress and voice artist, Flora is the Artistic Director of Bison Arts Collective. Her recent theatre includes: The New New (Brave New Word @ The Arcola), Significant Other (Pensive Federation @ The Vaults), Light Work (Cuckoo Bang @ The White Bear), The Q (Cuckoo Bang @ Streatham Space Project). Film includes: One, Another (Lead, 2018).
Susannah: Saskia Coomber
Saskia trained at the University of Central Lancashire, where she studied Ba (Hons) Acting and was nominated for the 2014 Creative Focus Award for Performance. Credits include The Storytellers (BBC), Is Dis A Dagga I See Before Me? (Applecart Arts), Drawn Down (Studio Hazy), A Christmas Carol (Red Dog Theatre Company), Fancy (Brave New Word), and Sink (ScriptSpace).
Bertie: Charlie Morton
Charlie George Morton is an up-and-coming actor looking for representation, with a background in theatre arts. As a former East 15 Acting School student and current active member of the Gloucestershire Youth Theatre Company, he has connections to both London and the West of England. He is making his professional debut in this original performance of ‘100 Years’ as ‘Bertie’.
Jack/Foreman: Matty McCabe
Matty is a confident actor who goes beyond the call of duty with his work. Enjoys long walks along the beach (Westbourne Park canal). Excessive reading and video researching (Facebook news feed). Fitness enthusiast (cover up for his Chinese addiction). Passionate about all things acting and also excels in improvising. But don’t listen to him talking about himself in the 3rd person, hear it from the man, the legend, the Holy ghost himself… “Matt is a great guy, highly recommend” – Jesus (Represented by @Ingartists).
Clare: Madeleine Kasson
Madeleine has been acting in film and on stage since 2006. She trained professionally at Playhouses West (North Hollywood) and Drama Studio London. After graduating from UCLA, where she founded Bruin Live Theatre Co., she moved to the UK for the weather. Recently, Madeleine produced A Taste of Shakespeare- an immersive, site-specific, Shakespeare dining experience. She just finished working on Soldier On, at The Other Palace. When not applying for visas, she has earned credits in Christmas Time, Mistletoe, and Whine (stage), 50 Ways to Kill Your Lover (TV), Our Town, and The Brothers Karamazov. You can see her in the film adaptation of Christmas Time, Mistletoe, and Whine this Christmas.
Alice: Harriet Main
Harriet trained at the Ecole Internationale de Théâtre de Jacques Lecoq in Paris, after completing a degree in French and Spanish at UCL. Since graduating, she has mainly worked in devised, ensemble productions and new writing. Her main enjoyment is combining elements of her training in physical theatre and comic timing with new, original text. Recent credits include an Edgar Allan Poe Double Bill at The Brockley Jack Studio Theatre and Metamorphoses 2 at the Waterloo East Theatre.’
Doctor: William Edden
William Edden is part of the Ensemble cast in ‘100 Years’ and has recently graduated from East 15 acting school. William is currently represented by United Agents. His previous professional theatre credits included Nipper in Oliver! The musical (Drury Lane), Gavroche in Les Miserables (Queens Theatre), Lyonka in Ahasverus (RSC Hammersmith) and The Artful Dodger in Oliver! UK tour (Cameron MacKintosh/Stage Entertainment UK/Tour). Film credits: Daniel in King for a day (University of Westminster)
Aunt Augusta: Alma Reising
Alma trained at E15 Acting school and was an actress in her distant youth in the 80s!! Preferring a return to acting to retirement, recent theatrical performances have included Lord Gonzalo in an all-female version of ‘The Tempest’ with Controlled Chaos Theatre company – Brockley Jack; Sycorax in an all-female version of ‘The Tempest’ – Sea Change Theatre Company – Tour; An array of American mothers in New Writing with Sky Blue Challenge Theatre Company and Underexposed Theatre Company which played at Southwark Playhouse in July. Alma also does live Storytelling performances.
The Flour Girls
Directed by Tess Agus
Tess is an Israeli-born freelance director and theatre-maker and recent graduate of the MA in Directing at the Guildford School of Acting. She has recently performed in Sue MacLaine’s ‘Vessel’ at The Battersea Arts Centre and is the co-founder of theatre company ‘Bee in my Beanie’.
Ro: Tori Louis
Tori is a somewhat late starter as an actor only graduating from Drama Studio London in 2014. Since then Tori has played Shakespeare’s Caliban, multiple Brecht roles, and a demonic tongued woman at The London Horrorfest (Winner of the BadAss Women). Tori is also a stand up and writer whose self penned sitcom got through to the London heats of the Sitcom Trials. If you look really hard you can see Tori in Sainsbury’s Christmas ad playing the piano.
Be: Jennifer Oliver
Jennifer Oliver is an actor and writer. Acting credits include; Picked + Mixed (Arcola), Voices From Home (Old Red Lion) Jailer’s Daughter, (Ye Olde Rose and Crown) Fruitcake (Southwark Playhouse), Outlying Islands (Soho Theatre), Hamlet (White Bear Theatre) Wild West (French and Saunders/BBC). Jennifer’s writing credits include The Boyfriend (Fizzy Sherbet), Letting Go (Park Theatre) and The Club (Southwark Playhouse). She trained at Drama Centre London and has a MA in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Westminster.
Land of the Free
Directed by Rachel Mervis
Trained at East 15 Acting school on the BA (Hons) in World Performance and is the Co-Founder and resident director of HiddenViewz Production Company. She has worked with the BAME networks of business such as Linklaters firm and UBS bank in creating theatre for corporate events. Directing credits: Face to Face (The Water Rats Theatre, Scratched: Evening of New Writing Festival. Rialto Theatre, Brighton Fringe. Etcetera Theatre, Camden Fringe). Under The Mental Health Act (The Cockpit Theatre, Camden Fringe Festival). CRACK/ed (The Blue Elephant Theatre, Trunkated ScratchNight. Theatre N16, Big Fat Sunday Scratch. Black Market, Room 2 and Surgeons Hall, Edinburgh Fringe Festival.) A Line (The Bread and Rose Theatre, Clapham Fringe). My Brothers Drug (Trinity Church Hall, Ventnor Fringe. Bar Bados- Room 6, Edinburgh Fringe) The Land of the Free (Southwark Playhouse). Assistant Directing Credits: Black Love Matters (The Cockpit Theatre, Camden Fringe). Identity (Clifftown Theatre) A Ghost Sonata (Gateway Building) A world Extravaganza (Actors Church- St Paul).
James: Jack Fisher
Jack Fisher plays the part of James and The Busker in Land Of The Free. Jack trained at East 15 acting school, graduating in 2018. Since graduating in July, Jack has worked in a corporate theatre piece for theatre company Hiddenviewz in collaboration with UBS bank. He is currently involved in a new play in a company with fellow cast member, Ciara Kaighin Adams, which they plan on taking to theatres early next year.
Maddy: Cate Johannessen
Cate Johannessen has recently graduated this year from East 15 Acting School. She works at Playbox Theatre in Warwick and also attended Peter Ustinov Theatre School. She is very excited and grateful to be in her first professional show.
Jody: Ciara Kaighin Adams
Ciara Kaighin Adams plays the role of Jody in Land Of The Free. She trained at East15 Acting School and graduated 2018. After graduating she has been involved in a corporate theatre event with UBS bank as well as being selected to be part of industry showcase at RedGates Theatre, presenting her own piece. She is currently involved in a new play in a company with fellow cast member, Jack Fisher, which they plan on taking to theatres early next year.
India: Megha Dhingra
Some of Megha’s theatre credits include Elemental (The Bush theatre)Taking Flight UK Tour(which also performed at the New Diorama Theatre) and I Anit Dumb(Royal Stratford East Theatre) Megha has also worked for ITV in the governmental election promo, and starred in The Chapati Flower produced by MET film school. Currently training at IDSA she will next appear in the National Theatre Connections play, Terra.
Harry/Kev: Nathan Cottee
Nathan Cottee is playing the parts of Harry and Kev in Land of the Free and is very proud of being part of this production. A graduate of East 15 Acting School in 2018, he was a member of the theatre company 9Tales for a run of shows at The Camden Fringe this summer in the production Bardo. Also, he is a former member of theatre company Rising Stars.
Waitress/Nancy/Photo girl: Seisha Butler
Seisha Butler is an actor-musician and plays the part of Waitress in Land Of the Free as well as being Musical Director for tonight’s performance. She is a founder member of In Yer Face Productions and graduated East15 Acting School with a 1st in 2018. She has written, published and directed her own play Jupiter, produced and released a single; Inadequate and is a keen composer and video editor; writing and mixing music and footage for amateur shows and short films.
Marilyn/Male tourist/Whistler: Charlie George Morton
Charlie George Morton is an up-and-coming actor looking for representation, with a background in theatre arts. As a former East 15 Acting School student and current active member of the Gloucestershire Youth Theatre Company, he has connections to both London and the West of England. He is making his professional debut in this original performance of ‘100 Years’ as ‘Bertie’.
Larry/Stag/Woman 1: William Edden
William Edden is part of the Ensemble cast in ‘100 Years’ and has recently graduated from East 15 acting school. William is currently represented by United Agents. His previous professional theatre credits included Nipper in Oliver! The musical (Drury Lane), Gavroche in Les Miserables (Queens Theatre), Lyonka in Ahasverus (RSC Hammersmith) and The Artful Dodger in Oliver! UK tour (Cameron MacKintosh/Stage Entertainment UK/Tour). Film credits: Daniel in King for a day (University of Westminster).