A Necessary Woman

Sunday 2 April 1911. Census Night.

The Government continues to ignore the burning question of female suffrage. Women up and down the country prepare to avoid and evade the census as a protest and challenge to authority. “No Vote, no Census!” is their battle cry.

Suffragette Emily Davison is hiding in a cleaning cupboard in the crypt beneath the Palace of Westminster. Emily plans a daring act in Parliament for Monday morning, but with a greater police presence and security tighter than usual, will she achieve her ambition before she’s caught and returned to prison?

Based on a true event to celebrate the 2018 suffrage centenary when the first women gained the vote.

A Necessary Woman has been performed in Parliament and featured on BBC Woman’s Hour, BBC Breakfast, ITV News at Ten and in the Telegraph. Come and SEE the play that found the new Emily Davison film footage and HEAR Emily’s actual speech planned for Prime Minister’s Questions!

Presented by CLAIR / OBSCUR. Written and performed by Deborah Clair and Philippa Urquhart. Directed by Dominique Gerrard.