Three sold-out performances of Unearthed, Women of Dorset’s powerful new community theatre production, culminated with a lantern parade through Dorchester celebrating the county’s extraordinary women.
Following the final performance at Dorchester Arts, the audience joined the cast and community in a moving, joyful procession through the town, singing songs from the play and carrying handmade lanterns to illuminate and honour real women from Dorset’s past.
The cast and community chorus of more than 40 women aged from nine to 82 used magical moments, dance and song to bring Dorset’s forgotten women vividly back to life.
History was illuminated throughout performances and parade, creating a moving celebration.
Written by Stephanie Dale and directed by Penny Levick, this stage play portrayed extraordinary historical women from across time who lived, loved, survived and thrived across Dorset:
- Juthwara – a 5th century Saint, from Halstock
- Marina Russell – a folk singer, from Corscombe
- An Iron Age Woman – human sacrifice, from Winterborne Kingston
- Thirza Jefford – a prisoner, from Dorset County gaol
- Violet Cross – awarded a British Medal, from Hazelbury Bryan
- Chrissie Squire – sent decorated eggs to France, from Chideock
- Mary Frances Billington – a pioneering journalist, from Wimborne
- Elizabeth Jesty – first woman to be vaccinated, from Yetminster
- Alice Russell – 15th century woman who bought land, from Weymouth
- Hilda Coles – museum creator, from Wimborne Minster
- Lilian Bader – one of the first Black women to join The RAF
- Caroline Norton – feminist and social reformer
More about Women of Dorset
Stephanie and Penny founded Women of Dorset as a result of wanting women across the county to have greater access to the arts.
In workshops funded by The Maria Bjornson Memorial Trust Fund, they worked with over 150 women at Poole Lighthouse, Dorchester Arts, Shaftesbury Arts, Weymouth College and Lyric Theatre, Bridport.
They worked with 14 volunteer researchers at Dorset History Centre to explore the lives of women from across time.
They are: Penny Cake, Anna Doherty, Alison Fox, Caroline Powell, Maddie Duke, Barabra Jenkins, Susannah Kipling, Sue McGarel, Karen Whillier, Perwina Whitmore, Caron White, Elayne Morris, Sonia Morris and Cath Rothman.
Women In Dorset held a launch event at Dorchester Arts, where over 70 women came and discovered more about the project, listened to an inspiring a talk from Anya Pearson from Visible Women, learned new dances led by Angela Laycock and listened to acapella group Bread and Roses.
They also hosted Wine with Our Women – an evening introducing their unearthed women, with music from Belle Street Duo. Song writing workshops were held with Jenifer Toksfig and Tim Laycock.
The entire process, as part of a Phd exploring the connection between image and empowerment, is being documented by Jayne Jackson Photography.