Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Community Play goes down a storm!
The inspirational story of Elizabeth Garrett Anderson was brought to life at the Long Shop Museum last weekend in a sold-out performance delivered by The Garrett Payers.
This unique and original production was scripted and directed by museum volunteer Jill Hubbard with music arranged by Nina Horrocks Hopyian, who also skilfully portrayed Elizabeth Garrett Anderson. The cast as a whole comprised local residents aged from under 10 to over 80, who all gave accomplished performances despite their mixed range of experience on stage, and filled a wide variety of roles to cover all the aspects of Anderson’s life and times.
Many young people gave up their half term breaks – and even more selflessly surrendered (their mobile phones) to take part in the production. From family to feuds to street brawls between the police and the Suffragettes, the play depicted funny and engaging scenes of personal and social history with the struggle for women’s emancipation at its heart.
The Victorian factory building of the Long Shop provided the perfect setting for this atmospheric and historic play as part the Museums at Night Initiative, and was an ideal way to end the EGA centenary celebrations. The story reached new audiences who went home with a greater understanding of Garrett Anderson’s pioneering achievements; what a shame it was only on for 2 nights!
Please check the Museum website for details of our Christmas Fair and other ‘out of season’ events – www.longshopmuseum.co.uk.
