STAHS Theatre Company’s production of Rebellious Women shone an aptly-timed light on the suffragette cause last week, with the final performance taking place on International Women’s Day.

Commissioned by the School as part of the Write the Girl initiative and created in partnership with the professional playwright Beth Flintoff, Rebellious Women explores the story of Wimbledon suffragettes Rose Lamartine Yates and Edith Begbie. It revisits events such as the 1911 suffrage ‘No Votes, No Census’ protests and explores some challenging themes, such as police brutality and forced feeding.

Last Thursday’s matinee – performed to Year 9 Drama electives and Arts Award students – was followed by a Q&A with Beth Flintoff, which was recorded and will be shared as a podcast. This was followed by a second performance in the Jubilee Hall, with Friday’s show at the Barn Theatre serving as the finale – and the School’s entry to the Welwyn Garden City Youth Drama Festival.

Director of Drama Holly Whymark said: ‘As a director I have been so impressed by this most talented company. They have really invested in their characters, undertaking detailed research into the events of the play and the lives of these important women. The audience remarked on their powerful performances and sensitivity to the themes explored.’

By performing at two venues, the cast had to adapt their performance to suit the different staging arrangements: the performance at STAHS was immersive, being performed on a traverse stage, while the Barn Theatre has a traditional proscenium stage.

Mrs Whymark added: ‘This is a big challenge but one the company has met with gusto. I am very proud and feel privileged to have worked with this wonderful group.’