Blue Stockings
10th-13th October 2018
Blue Stockings follows the story of four young women fighting for education and self-determination against the larger backdrop of women’s suffrage written by director and writer, Jessica Swale.
1896. Girton College, Cambridge, the first college in Britain to admit women.
The Girton girls study ferociously and match their male peers grade for grade. Yet, when the men graduate, the women leave with nothing but the stigma of being a ‘blue stocking’ – an unnatural, educated woman. They are denied degrees and go home unqualified and unmarriageable.
In Swale’s play, Tess Moffat and her fellow first years are determined to win the right to graduate. But little do they anticipate the hurdles in their way: the distractions of love, the cruelty of the class divide or the strength of the opposition, who will do anything to stop them. The play follows them over one tumultuous academic year, in their fight to change the future of education.
Charles Spencer of The Telegraph writes:
'Jessica Swale tells the story with both wit and a hint of righteous indignation – and the final reveal of the date when women finally were awarded degrees at Cambridge took me completely by surprise.'
The Cast
SOPHIE TORRENT
Director
The GIRLS
FRANCESCA PAULLEY
Tess Moffat
PHOEBE
Carolyn Addison
ABBY DEARING
Celia Willbond
INDIA BREWER
Maeve Sullivan
The BOYS
ALEX DAVIES
Ralph Mayhew
CALUM BROWN
Edwards
TOM McGRATH
Lloyd
JAMES KINGHAM TAHENY
Will Bennett
ALISTAIR MEADS
Holmes
The STAFF
JULIA DEARING
Mrs Elizabeth Welsh
ANGELA STRACH
Miss Eleanor Blake
TIM CHALKLEN
Mr Thomas Blake
LIAM TEBBIT
Dr Maudsley
BETH MACKERNESS
Minnie
LESLEY WILLOUGHBY
Miss Peck
LEY DOBSON
Miss Bott
HOWARD GIBBS
Radleigh
LIAM TEBBIT
Anderson
JAMIE DOYLE-McCLOSKEY
Collins
OTHERS
KAITLIN FLORIDA-JAMES
Billy Sullivan
LAURA COLLIER
Mrs Lindley
JOAN GIBBS
Librarian
ADRIAN UZZELL
Husband
TESTIMONIALS
"Beautiful work here from @richingsplayers in their production of BLUE STOCKINGS by Jessica Swale. It looks like a stunning show that truly deserved its sell-out success! Congratulations!"
NHB Performing Rights
"Congratulations to our friends at @richingsplayers on their fantastic production of Blue Stockings . Amazing piece of drama, complimented superbly by an incredible cast. An excellent Saturday night at the theatre, well done to all involved!"
St Peter Players
The TEAM
Production Assistant - Michael Lucas
Set Design - Richard Evans & Sophie Torrent
Sound - Robin Bishop
Lighting - Les Brewer
Stage Manager - Richard Evans
Stage Crew - Haydn Parnell, Harry Copas, Archie Copas, Michael Lucas, Will Torrent, Evelyn Stafford-Allen
Set Dressing - Tim Chalklen, Joan Gibbs & Lesley Willoughby
Set Construction - Members of the Society
Costume - Linda Lucas, Joan Gibbs
Hair & Make Up Design - Pippa Vinall
Hair & Make Up Team - Leanne Oxlade, Claire Coles, Amy Whyard, Olivia Henderson from The Iver Academy
Properties - Tim Chalklen
Front of House & Refreshments - Maddy Swart, Anne Torrent, Pete Torrent & Members of the Society
Box Office - Paul & Lis Dunham
Photography - Ley Dobson
Poster Design & Publicity - Will Torrent
Programme - Mandy Gasson & Will Torrent
With thanks to Malcolm Roberts, Heart of Bucks, The Red Lion, Iver Parish Council,Mary Clarke & Pat Leech at Iver Village Hall and
King’s Church Iver