Lynx Theatre: Sylvia at the Working Class Movement Library

Sara Jaspan, Exhibitions Editor

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Lynx Theatre: Sylvia

3 March 2018

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

International Women’s Day event – Lynx Theatre’s play ‘Sylvia’
Image courtesy of Lynx Theatre
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This event has now sold out.

Sylvia Pankhurst has been called ‘the greatest Englishwoman of the twentieth century’. And with good reason. Born in Manchester in 1882 to two great social reformers, she spent her life campaigning not only for women’s suffrage (founding the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) in 1903), but also universal suffrage. She was a prominent communist and, later, a passionate anti-fascism activist; compared by the Irish playwright and critic George Bernard Shaw to Joan of Arc in her tireless struggle for world peace. But she began life as an artist.

Presented at the Working Class Movement Library as part of Wonder Women 2018, Sylvia by Jacqueline Mulhallen (co-founder of Lynx Theatre) is a one-woman-play which tells the story of Pankhurst’s childhood and early life, through over 250 slides. Each one showing early black-and-white photographs of her paintings and travels.

As a young woman, Pankhurst trained at the Manchester Municipal School of Art and the Royal College of Art, before departing on a tour across the industrial communities of northern England and Scotland in 1907. During this time, she spent countless hours painting and writing about the awful working and living conditions of female workers, building a powerful argument for improvement of working conditions and pay equality with men. Though she largely gave up her painting and illustration work to concentrate on her political activism, Pankhurst was one of the many women who helped design the badges, banners and flyers for the WSPU; her symbolic ‘angel of freedom’ becoming synonymous with the campaign.

Sylvia promises to provide a fascinating, visually rich account of this much lesser-known side of Pankhurst’s life, as well featuring rarely seen archival images of leading figures, events and places from the suffragette movement. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn more about one of Manchester’s most important, fascinating heroes.

This event will be followed by a post-show discussion.

Where to go near Lynx Theatre: Sylvia at the Working Class Movement Library

Manchester
Music venue
Peel Hall

One of a few remaining Gothic concert halls in the United Kingdom. It has tiered seating for 370 and is housed in the Peel Building which stands at the front of the Peel Park Campus.

Manchester
Park
Peel Park

Peel Park in Salford is the oldest public park in Britain and the first of three to be opened in 1846.

Laura Daly: The Storm Cone at Peel Park, Salford
Salford
The Storm Cone, Peel Park

The Storm Cone is a digital artwork and soundscape by artist Laura Daly and composer Lucy Pankhurst, which simulates lost park bandstands and explores their forgotten histories.

Salford museum and art gallery exterior
Manchester
Museum
Salford Museum and Art Gallery

Salford Museum and Art Gallery is a friendly city museum close to Peel Park with special appeal to families; the highlight is Lark Hill Place, a charming Victorian Street installation.

Manchester
Gallery
Hot Bed Press

Hot Bed Press, based at the Casket Works in Salford, is a not-for-profit printmakers’ studio, is now the largest open-access print workshop in the region.

Salford
Restaurant
Old Pint Pot

This lively spot could be considered a jack of all trades – pub, restaurant, events space and live music venue.

Manchester
Gallery
Centenary Building

One of The University of Salford’s School of Arts and Media facilities. The Centenary Building won the RIBA Award and Stirling Prize in 1996 and the Civic Trust Award in 1997.

Salford
Gallery
GK Gallery

This Chapel Street gallery and tea room hosts 8-12 week long exhibitions giving emerging artists a chance to showcase their work.

Chapel Street
Gallery
Islington Mill

A former cotton spinning mill, Islington Mill in Manchester now houses artists’ studios, galleries, a recording studio, a nightclub, cafe and B&B.

Manchester
Event venue
7 Spot Pottery

Part of Salford Makers, 7 Spot is a 360 square foot ceramics studio offering classes and workshops as well as studio space for members.

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