inspirational international women’s day events in Brighton

Did you know that suffragettes Mary Leigh and Eva Bourne hid in Brighton Dome’s organ in 1910, hoping to interrupt Prime Minister Herbert Asquith’s speech there? They were only discovered when one of the women coughed. As they were led away, they complained that the building needed a good clean.

This and many more unusual facts were included in Louise Peskett’s entertaining talk, Actress, Singer, Suffragette, which marked the start of the Dome’s international women’s day (IWD) events. Louise focused on the work of the Actresses Franchise League, whose supporters included Brighton-born sisters, actresses Eva and Decima Moore, as well as the more well-known Ellen Terry and Lillie Langtry. The League supported other women’s suffrage movements, often writing short plays on the topic to enliven political meetings, one of which Louise read out to end her sold-out talk.

Mighty River concert

Brighton Philharmonic orchestra has a new lease of life under the leadership of their exuberant and talented conductor, Joanna MacGregor, who champions a wide range of music, from classical to jazz.

Their excellent Mighty River concert on 8 March included exciting music by Black women composers. Two piano solos by MacGregor led into a delicate piano and string quintet, Clouds, by British-Jamaican Eleanor Alberga. Themes of slavery and freedom were explored in Belize-born Errollyn Wallen’s magnificent Mighty River, which touched on ‘Amazing Grace’ and gospel music.

A brilliant young singer and cello player, Ayanna Witter-Johnson, opened the second half with four expressive and personal songs from her new album, Colour War, which were warmly received. She performed one of these on Clive Anderson’s Loose Ends the following day.

The orchestra’s final piece was Mississippi River Suite by Florence Price, the first African-American symphonic composer. Weaving in spirituals such as ‘Go Down, Moses’ and ‘Deep River’, this evocative piece gathered pace, with powerful strings, percussion and brass. The orchestra received a well-deserved standing ovation.

Workshops, talks, music and dance

Brighton Women’s Centre IWD Celebration 2024 on 9 March was bigger and better than before. The Dome and Corn Exchange were packed with stalls from a huge number of community-based cultural, historical and campaigning organisations, such as Stand for Ukraine, Sussex Defend the NHS and RISE, a local domestic abuse charity.

Children and young people were well catered for, with toys, games and pottery for the younger ones; and for 14+, music-making with AudioActive and advice from The Girls’ Network. Workshops included yoga, singing, Bollywood dance and story-telling, and talks throughout the day on women in the workplace, universal credit, mental well-being and the menopause.

Women-focused stalls included Brighton and Hove Women’s History Group, who campaign for blue plaques to commemorate where women supporters of the suffrage movement lived; the Mary Clarke statue appeal group, which we featured in a previous article; and the Women’s International League for Peace, who are working with Jewish and Palestinian women on the conflict in Gaza.

Due to some allegations made about Brighton Parents for Palestine, their stall was cancelled “to ensure the safety, welfare and enjoyment of all participants” (Dome statement), and there was a protest outside the Dome about it. Not knowing what the allegations were it is hard to comment, but the group claim that their request to meet the organisers was ignored, whereas Brighton Women’s Centre argue that they did not have enough time to investigate.

Nevertheless, there was a well-attended stall from The Palestine Room art and craft club, with beautifully-made weavings, bags and clothes; and the performance of traditional Palestine dabke dancing was hugely popular, with a large number of people joining in.

We-Bop, Brighton’s all-female a cappella choir, and Sing Space musical theatre choir from Lewes, entertained the crowds; and for those like me, who wanted to join in the singing, ever-popular Aneesa Chaudry ran an up-beat singing workshop on the Dome stage.

Time to celebrate and carry on campaigning

International Women’s Day is a chance to focus on and celebrate women’s achievements, but also to take stock and realise how far there is to go: the UN theme for this year is ‘Accelerate progress’. Events such as those at the Dome are important, positive markers of the day and an opportunity to share successes, as well as identify what still needs to be done.

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