Celebrating the achievements of the Suffragists

The Townswomen’s Guild provides women with a voice and the opportunity to comment on issues

To commemorate 100 years since the Representation of the People Act came into fruition and allowed some women the right to vote, Royton Townswomen’s Guild and Crompton Stage Society, based at Playhouse 2, teamed up for an evening of all things suffrage.

The suffrage movement specifically ties in with the Townswomen’s Guild as the organisation itself is a direct descendant of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies formed by suffragist, Millicent Fawcett.

Therefore, it seemed only right that the Guild celebrated the achievements of the Suffragists and took the time to learn more about their heritage.

This is where Crompton Stage Society could help, as actors from the society got together to perform 'Miss Appleyard's Awakening' by Evelyn Glover for the Royton Guild’s members (see picture below).

This was a short play in which the characters demonstrate the tensions between the suffragists and the anti-suffragist campaigners. 

Barbara Micklethwaite, Chairman of Crompton Stage Society and Royton Townswomen’s Guild, said: “It was important for us to acknowledge and celebrate our heritage, especially this year. 

“So I asked my friends from Playhouse 2 to help me to put on a production for the Guild and it was a great success. 

“We had a lovely evening learning more about how our organisation derives from the suffragists plus it was great way of bringing two local organisations together.” 

As well as the actual Guild colours of red, green and white, the ethos of the Townswomen’s Guild is very much a product of its predecessor – it provides women with a voice and the opportunity to comment on issues, often political, that arise in today’s society.

It is also a great support network for the women who are members.

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