A Norfolk woman's involvement in the fight for women's rights is the inspiration behind a play being performed in Norwich.
Wrong'Un: A Suffragette's Story is taking to the stage at The Garage tomorrow, and while lead character Annie Wilde is fictitious, much of her story is taken from the life of Norfolk-born Grace Marcon, who was a suffragette and went under the alias Freda Graham.
The musical drama, being presented by Red Ladder Theatre Company as part of The Garage's Curtain Up! season, was written by ex-Chumbawamba guitarist Boff Whalley after Grace's granddaughter, Ginny Scholey, told him about how she came across a case belonging to her grandmother which revealed she had been a militant suffragette.
Grace, from Edgefield, near Holt, was imprisoned in Holloway women's prison in 1913 and 1914 for taking action – once by attacking paintings in the National Gallery – to fight for all women to have the right to vote. Inside the case were, among other things, newspaper reports of Grace's arrests and court appearances and a suffragette medal awarded to women activists who had been imprisoned for the cause.
Tomorrow Ginny, from Leeds, and her sister, Dee Scholey, who lives in Wymondham, will both watch Wrong'Un.
Dee said: 'I can't wait to see the play for the first time tonight. Our grandma has always been a somewhat mythical figure in our family, so it's been really interesting to learn more about her as more information has come to light. I guess what I have taken from her life story is that she wasn't afraid to speak up and act to uphold what she believed in, no matter how unpopular that opinion may have been.'
Following the play, there will be a Q&A with actress Ella Harris, who plays Annie, and also Ginny, as well as a display of memorabilia. Ginny plans to develop workshops for schools in Norfolk. Teachers interested in having Ginny visit their school should email ginnyscholey@hotmail.com
Wrong'Un is at The Garage at 7pm tomorrow and suitable for people aged 11 and over. Tickets £10 (£5 for under 25s). To book call 01603 660352 or 01603 630000, or visit www.thegarage.org.uk
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