So. Operation-Three
Generations of Women is officially
underway. No, this doesn’t involve
taking out the Kardashians (although who knows, maybe eventually - aim high I
say), but instead, talking to women about their changing role in society. Three Generations of Women is our brand new play in development funded by the
Art Council England – that’s right; the bid was successful -
exciting times! But it’s a bit of
a case of, “oh blimey, what did we say we’d do again?” We are basically travelling up and down
the country speaking to women in London, Brighton and Leeds about what it’s
been like to grow up in England over the last 100 years. Small task then....
This week - Anna and I took the first steps on that journey
by visiting our old stomping ground up north. Anna lived in Leeds for several years and I studied there as
an undergrad so it was a real nostalgia trip, with us both offering en-route
comments such as, “Ooh, I remember when that was a Morrison’s”, and, “I had sex
here once”, profound historical insights like that…(and no, I’m not revealing
which of us or where).
Our first groups have proved inspiring and in some cases
awe-inspiring, such as an 102 year-old we met at a ‘Silver Samba’ group who had
grown up in the workhouse with her three sisters. So many different women with so many tales to tell - from traumatising
backstreet abortions to the many grandmothers who were unable to attend higher
education – so much food for thought already. Many thanks to the West Yorkshire Playhouse and Leeds City
Council for partnering with us on this venture – their support has been
invaluable.
We also went back to Leeds Uni to give a talk and hold a
research group with English and Theatre studies students on the course I once
studied there, which was a pretty weird experience! But they were a really engaged and friendly group and, as well as asking them about their experiences of growing up, they asked us about our experiences of setting up a theatre company; hopefully we
had a few bits of helpful advice. We certainly had a cracking session with them on 3Gen, and emerged
with some of my favourite ‘pieces of advice your mum has ever given you’ to
date: from the sensible advice “Never re-freeze”, to the down-right grim
“Some days you’re the pigeon, other days you’re the statue” – good to know I’m not
the only one suffering that disgusting affliction.
So, a great couple of days kicking off our research in
Leeds, and more to come – next week we are down in Brighton for our first
groups there on the 28th.
Do get in touch if you haven’t already and would like to attend a
session.
Find out more here – www.facebook.com/threegenerationsofwomen
- and on our new website once it launches in the next few weeks.
Alice
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