Cast, Creatives + Crew

Plot Breakdown And Scene Summary

Scene And Song List

Character Breakdown

Sylvia In London – A Timelime

Contextual Influences

Collaborating With Others – An Interview With Dannielle ‘Rhimes’ Lecointe

The Script - An Interview With Actor Beverly Knight

Lesson Plan Ideas – Acting

The Dance - An Interview With Associate Choreographer Jade Hackett

Lesson Plan Ideas – Dance

The Music – An Interview With Kate Prince, Josh Cohen And Dj Walde

Lesson Plan Ideas – Music

The Design - An Interview With Lighting Designer Natasha Chivers

Lesson Plan Ideas – Design

Glossary

Performance Worksheet – Initial Tasks

Further Opportunities

Useful Resources And Further Reading

Kate’s other theatrical work includes Everybody’s Talking about Jamie (Sheffield, West End & UK Tour), Bacchae (National Theatre), Dream Ballets (Regents Park Open Air Theatre), Ballyturk (National Theatre), Shoes (Sadler’s Wells), I Can’t Sing: The X-Factor Musical (Palladium), and It’s A Mad World My Masters (RSC).

Sylvia Pankhurst devoted her life to fighting for equality - not just for the working-class men and women in the UK - but in later life she was a radical anti-colonialist, anti-racist and anti-fascist. She was the first person in the UK to employ a black journalist. She lived in Ethiopia, fighting fascism and upon her death was given a state funeral by Haile Selassie and named an honorary Ethiopian. 

I hope you enjoy studying ‘Sylvia’. 

Love, Kate x

Today, all British citizens over the age of 18 share a fundamental human right: the right to vote and to have a voice in the democratic process. But this right is only the result of a hard-fought battle.

The suffrage campaigners of the 19th and early 20th century, including the suffragists and suffragettes, struggled against opposition from both parliament and the public to gradually gain the vote for the whole population.

At the end of the 19th century, there had been small, peaceful protests by a group known as the suffragists. The group was made up of mainly middle-class women and campaigned peacefully. The organisation built up supporters in Parliament, but private members’ bills to give women the vote all failed.

In the year 1903 (where the show Sylvia begins) the WSPU (Women’s Social and Political Union) was founded by Emmeline Pankhurst in Manchester.

The more violent activists, of which the Pankhurst family were central, became known as suffragettes, a term originally coined by the Daily Mail to ridicule them.

Throughout Sylvia, the Pankhurst daughters are repeatedly imprisoned and arrested, often going on hunger strike.

There were two major political parties — the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party. Around the same time, Keir Hardie was a politician who was setting up a new party, the Labour Party, which at that time was very small with only one MP. He marked himself out as a radical both by his dress — he wore a tweed suit when most members of parliament wore more formal dress — and the subjects he advocated, including free schooling, pensions, Indian self-rule and importantly, women’s rights.

Keir Hardie gradually developed the Labour Party, and in Sylvia we see how the party is transformed from having one seat to having 27 seats in a general election, giving them much more power. He devoted his energy to promoting the Labour Party and championing equality, particularly in the cause of women’s suffrage and the working class.

Another character who features prominently in Sylvia is a young MP who goes on to become Home Secretary and later Prime Minister — twice. His name is Winston Churchill. In his early career, Churchill was part of the Conservative Party, before defecting to the Liberal Party over disagreements, and then later back to the Conservative Party where he was Prime Minister during the Second World War.

In Sylvia, we see Winston Churchill as a young MP in Manchester, where many of the WSPU demonstrations were taking place. Unlike Hardie, Churchill was not a supporter of women’s right to vote, as is seen in Sylvia.

We also see that Churchill’s mother, Lady Jennie Churchill, was fiercely against women’s right to vote; however, Clementine Hozier, later Clementine Churchill his wife, was defiantly in favour of the suffrage movement, which caused many arguments as you will see in the show.

In 1910, a Conciliation Bill allowing some women the right to vote containing over 250,000 signatures is approved by Prime Minister Asquith however, it does not pass through the various committees.

In response is an event that becomes known as ‘Black Friday’. Three hundred women march on Parliament to petition Prime Minister Asquith and are met by police. A six-hour period of intense violence and assaults takes place. Witnesses allege that sexual assault took place at the hands of police. Over 100 women are arrested, although all following charges were later dropped.

Winston Churchill (now Home Secretary) refuses to undertake an inquiry into the events of the day. Four days later, another 200 women march on Downing Street to demand immediate action by Asquith.

Both Sylvia Pankhurst and Keir Hardie become more disillusioned with the WSPU and their violent means, moving towards pacifist means and aligning closer with the socialist moves of the Labour Party.

In 1913, Emily Davison is killed after she steps out in front of the King’s horse at the Epsom Derby. A member of the WSPU, she intended to disrupt the Derby for the suffrage cause, though her exact motives are unknown. Thousands attend her funeral.

By 1914, Adela has emigrated to Australia and Sylvia has settled in the East End, establishing the East London Federation of Suffragettes and the free newspaper The Women’s Dreadnought.

Sylvia continues to put pressure on the government to get the voices of women of the working classes heard. She marches five women from the East End of London to have an audience with the Prime Minister, Asquith. The women detail the conditions of working women in the East End. Asquith promises to give the subject serious thought.

On the brink of war, David Lloyd George, a Liberal MP, attempts to make a truce with Sylvia, promising to support the Reform Bill in due course if the Pankhurst family put an end to militant action. Emmeline and Christabel, now estranged from Sylvia, refuse.

In 1915, Keir Hardie dies, and Sylvia loses a companion and long-time ally.

In 1916, Lloyd George replaces Asquith as Prime Minister.

In 1918, The Representation of the People Act is passed, allowing women over the age of 30 and men over the age of 21 to vote. Women must be married or home or landowners.

In 1928, The Representation of the People Act entitles everyone over the age of 21 to vote regardless of their social background. Emmeline Pankhurst, by this point a member of the Conservative Party, dies two weeks before the vote is extended. Her relationship with Sylvia is never mended.

Second daughter of Emmeline Pankhurst. Won a scholarship to the Royal College of Art in London, a course which she did not complete in order to pursue her political activities. In 1914, Sylvia was expelled from the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) after disagreements with Christabel and Emmeline about the focus of their activities and the lack of democracy within the union. Sylvia argued that they should take a more socialist approach and address issues other than women’s suffrage. Opposed to the First World War, Sylvia also disagreed with Emmeline and Christabel’s support of conscription and the war effort.

Sylvia settled and died in Ethiopia, was given a prestigious burial, and buried in a plot reserved for Abyssinian heroes.

In 2001, a campaign began for a statue of Sylvia to be erected in College Green, opposite the House of Commons. In 2018 a statue of Millicent Garrett Fawcett was unveiled on the green — the first woman to have a statue there. Five members of the cast of SYLVIA, along with Kate Prince, attended the unveiling ceremony. There remains no statue to commemorate Sylvia’s contribution to the cause.

Sylvia’s artistic talents were often used on the banners and artwork associated with the WSPU. This includes the three colours of white, (representing purity) purple (dignity) and green (hope).

Founder of the WSPU, and whose name is synonymous with the Suffragette cause. Embarrassed by Sylvia’s common-law relationship (rather than marriage) which meant that Sylvia’s son Richard was born out of wedlock.

A statue of Emmeline stands in Victoria Tower Gardens, next to the House of Commons. Her book, My Own Story, was published in 1914.

CHRISTABEL (1880—1958)

Eldest and most militant of Emmeline’s daughters. She moved to Paris in 1913 from where she directed the attacks carried out by the WSPU.

ADELA (1885—1961)

Third daughter of Emmeline and Richard Pankhurst. Left the WSPU in 1911, strongly rejecting their violent and militant approach. Emigrated to Australia at Emmeline’s insistence (she paid the £20 fare) where she became a Socialist.

HARRY (1889—1910)

Sylvia’s younger brother, who died after contracting polio.

RICHARD (1836—1898)

Husband of Emmeline Pankhurst, a barrister, who was highly supportive in Emmeline’s fight for women’s suffrage. Stood for election as a Liberal MP.

Founder of the Independent Labour Party, and first Labour MP. Was one of several men arrested in their support of women’s suffrage. In 1908 he resigned as Leader of the Labour Party and spent the rest of his life campaigning for various causes, including the fight for votes for women. He developed a close relationship with Sylvia Pankhurst.

WINSTON CHURCHILL (1874—1965)

Most well known for being Prime Minister in 1940—1945 and 1951—1955, Churchill was Home Secretary between 1910 and 1911. He refused to engage with the Suffragette’s militant and violent actions, telling his wife Clementine in a letter that, ‘I have told them I cannot help them while the present tactics are continued’.

LLOYD GEORGE (1863—1945)

Prime Minister between 1916 and 1922, MP from 1890—1945 and Leader of the Liberal Party 1926—1931.

LORD CROMER (1841—1917)

First president of the National League for Opposing Woman Suffrage — an organisation which was formed by the amalgamation of the Women’s National Anti-Suffrage League and the Men’s League for Opposing Woman Suffrage.

In 1905 Kenney was imprisoned, along with Christabel Pankhurst, after heckling Sir Winston Churchill and Sir Edward Grey at a political meeting in Manchester. In 1906 Kenney attempted to obtain an audience with Herbert Asquith, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, but was arrested. She was offered the opportunity to avoid prison if she would cease her campaigning for 12 months but chose the six-week prison sentence regardless.

Kenney was made Deputy Leader of the WSPU in 1912.

CLEMENTINE CHURCHILL (1885—1977)

Wife of Winston Churchill, marrying him in 1908, six months after they met. Supporter of the women’s suffrage movement.

LADY JENNIE CHURCHILL (1854—1921)

Mother of Winston Churchill. Opposed the suffrage movement.

EDITH GARRUD (1872—1971)

One of the first female martial arts instructors in the Western world, Garrud trained the WSPU bodyguards in self-defence techniques. Several Suffragettes were trained in Jujitsu.

FLORA ‘THE GENERAL’ DRUMMOND (1878—1949)

Scottish Suffragette who joined the WSPU in 1906. Nicknamed ‘The General’ due to her military style uniform of epaulettes and jackets and riding a large horse. Organised rallies and demonstrations and earned a reputation for being able to deal with hecklers.

Joined the Suffragettes in 1906. Endured seven hunger strikes and 49 incidences of force feeding. On the night of the 1911 census, Davison hid in a cupboard in the Houses of Parliament, meaning that she could register it as her address.

Davison is most famous for her actions at Epsom Derby. During a race in which the King’s horse, Anmer, was running, Davison ran out in front of the horse. It is thought she may have been carrying a Suffragette flag or may have been attempting to attach a sash or badge to the horse. She was knocked unconscious after the collision and died four days later having never regained consciousness. It has never been established whether she intended to die as a result of her actions at the Derby: she carried a return train ticket in her pocket and had entries in her diary for the week following the Derby.

Davison studied at Royal Holloway, University of London, and Cambridge University. In 2017, Royal Holloway opened its new library bearing her name.

Italian anarchist and long-term partner of Sylvia Pankhurst who rejected the idea of marriage. Together they had one child, Richard Pankhurst, in 1927.

GEORGE CURZON (1859—1925)

Was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1916 to 1922. A Liberal Party statesman and politician from Wales. Under Lloyd George’s government, the Representation of the People Act was

passed in parliament in February 1918 – extending male suffrage alongside a limited franchise for women.

GEORGE BERNARD SHAW (1856—1950)

Irish playwright and political activist. Held socialist views, married to suffragist Charlotte Payne-Townshend. Wrote several plays which examined the inequality of society.

SIR ALMROTH WRIGHT KBE CB FRCSI FRS

(1861—1947)

Wright was strongly opposed to women’s suffrage. He argued that women’s brains were innately different from men’s and were not constituted to deal with social and public issues. His arguments were most fully expounded in his book The Unexpurgated Case Against Woman Suffrage (1913). In the book, Wright also

vigorously opposes the professional development of women.

Sylvia explores the ways in which relationships between the Pankhursts changed because of Christabel’s close relationship with her mother and their equally powerful belief in the WSPU cause. In particular, Sylvia was strongly opposed to the violent tactics used as she was a pacifist. The other Pankhurst siblings were undervalued by Emmeline.

A WOMAN’S RIGHT TO VOTE

In 2023 we might take our voting rights for granted. However, it is still only 90 years since all women over the age of 21 were granted the vote in 1928. (The voting age was lowered to 18 in 1970 following the Representation of the People Act 1969).

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

Throughout the WSPU activities, their approach was to disrupt rallies and speeches. They were often shouted down by others (both men and other women who disagreed with their fight for equality).

LAW AND THE RIGHT TO PROTEST

The WSPU and those demonstrating in support of them were treated roughly by the police, and Black Friday was a particularly low point in the relations between law enforcement, government and those wishing to protest. Subsequent treatment of those on hunger strike in prison amounted to torture.

POLITICS

The political landscape in the early 20th century was a rapidly changing one. The founding of the Independent Labour Party, the defection of Churchill from the Conservatives to the Liberals and the impact of the First World War, all had implications for the suffrage cause. Sylvia’s father, Richard Pankhurst himself had been a founding member of the Manchester Liberal Union and so Sylvia was born into a political family.

PEACEFUL PROTEST

In contrast to the militant approach used by the WSPU, the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies, led by Millicent Garrett Fawcett (aged only 19), took a peaceful approach but was overshadowed by the hostile responses to the methods of the WSPU.

The Pankhurst family lost Richard Pankhurst in 1898, and Harry in 1910. In addition, the family rift emerged as the daughters formed different opinions about the direction of the WSPU. This led to Adela and Sylvia both emigrating to other countries — suffering a different type of grief at their separation.

VIOLENCE

In the subsequent shaping of the Suffragette history, it is easy to forget that their campaign involved arson, bombing houses and post-boxes, attacking individuals and cutting communication networks. In today’s climate we might assign the label of ‘terrorist’ to those who undertook such actions.

ADULTERY AND SOCIAL NORMS

Sylvia went against social norms by dating Kier Hardie the leader of the Labour Party, a man who was almost twice her age and married. Despite all the good things Sylvia Pankhurst fought for to gain better women’s rights she did this whilst also betraying other women, Kier Hardie’s wife and her mother Emmeline Pankhurst, who was the same age as Kier and his friend.

Watch Beverley's powerful acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Emmeline: https://youtube.com/shorts/EICsyWf2XS4?si=T-lubAcU5_-zPawT

Ask students to make notes when watching the show on the following production elements and topics. After watching the show, they can share their views with their peers and add note from others points that they may have missed in a different coloured pen. They can use this later to help them write a review of the show.

Workshops are tailored to meet all levels of experience from Key Stage 3 and above. Working with partners we can create and deliver workshops that:

▪       Allow students to explore a range of dance styles that originate from Hip Hop Culture including Breakin’, House, Groove, Waacking, Krump, Nu Wave, and the funk styles of Popping and Locking.

▪       Cover repertoire from the productions Some Like It Hip Hop, The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, Sylvia, Ebony Scrooge and Message in a Bottle.

▪       Question and Answer sessions to support coursework.

Our teachers are the best within the industry, and all are working professionally as dancers and choreographers. All teachers complete regular training with the company to prepare them for their teaching work and all company teachers have a recent DBS check. We also welcome bookings from groups with special or additional needs. ZooNation is committed to enabling all participants to engage in workshops, equally and with dignity and respect.

Email workshop@zoonation.co.uk to book your workshop.

• https://zoonation.co.uk

• https://www.sadlerswells.com

• http://bit.ly/ZooNationDanceonDemand

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDHwt-ooAi4 

• http://bit.ly/HistoryofHipHopDance

• https://cdmt.org.uk/accredited-professional-Training

• Being a Dancer: Advice for Dancers and Choreographers by Lyndsey Winship

• High Kicks: The Essential Guide to Working as a Dancer by Donna Ross

• The Theatre Careers Handbook by Stage Jobs Pro

theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/feb/06/1910s-suffragettes-suffragists-fern-riddell

bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0076433#play

thepankhurstcentre.org.uk

Winston Churchill: Votes for Women!

Winston Churchill and his attitude to suffrage. winstonchurchill.org/the-life-of-churchill/rising-politician/1910-1919/votes-for-women-2/

Huffington Post: Winston Versus the Women

Churchill’s background and relationship with the suffrage movements. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/sarah-gristwood/winston-versus-the-women_b_8220120.html

BBC: Suffragette sites added to Heritage England sites

bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-44411505

Blog: Historiography and the Suffragettes

eveharwin.wordpress.com/2015/12/11/historiography-the-suffragettes

History Extra: The Suffragettes Reading List

historyextra.com/period/modern/the-suffragettes-reading-list/

National Schools Partnership: Suffragette Social Changers

Teaching resources nationalschoolspartnership.com/initiatives/suffragette/

The National Archives: Women’s Suffrage

An overview of the collections. nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/womens-suffrage/#5-suffrage-organisations-protest-action-and-legislation

Museum of London: Votes for Women exhibition

https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/museum-london/whats-on/exhibitions/votes-women?gclid=CjwKCAjw3cPYBB7EiwAsrc-uTROKAViEM1tAReG4wbQlDdgPY1rbSNb2u50luLzwWl360QbjVGrEBoCV3IQAvD_BwE

Plot Breakdown and Summary by Joseph Hancock

Photography - Manuel Harlan

A special mention to The Old Vic and 14-18 NOW.