City of Women, Leadenhall Market
Women at work – and changing the world – are celebrated in words and music
The pioneers of suffrage are remembered in City of Women
Using songs, sounds, and the words of women across history to modern times, audio composer Iain Chambers and writer Veronica Horwell have created a new composition entitled City of Women.
Free performances of City of Women will be given at Leadenhall Market ( 22 and 23 Sept), a significant location, because it was one of the first places in London where women were allowed to work.
The show forms part of Women: Work and Power, a season of 70 events across the City to celebrating the ground-breaking achievements of women.
Exploring women’s freedom of thought and religion, their right to work, to be financially and socially independent, and to vote and participate in public life, the performances will celebrate the suffragettes, famous female campaigners, and lesser-known women in the City who have defied expectations.
From the 17th-century cross-dressing pickpocket, Moll Cutpurse, and the 18th-century lace-making millionairess, Hester Pinney, to present-day figures such as former BBC China editor, Carrie Gracie, City of Women uses verbatim texts and music to tell the stories of these women in their own words.
Alongside the choir of the City of London School for Girls, soloists will perform five new anthems featuring excerpts from Emmeline Pankhurst’s 1913 speech ‘Freedom or Death’; campaigner Cicely Hamilton’s suffragette anthem The March of the Women; and poetry by Elizabeth Barratt Browning.
Graham Packham, chairman of the City of London Corporation’s culture, heritage and libraries committee, said: 'The City of London is often perceived as a historically male-dominated domain but, over the years, women have played a crucial role in shaping and developing the Square Mile. These women’s stories will allow modern audiences to understand what life was like for them and appreciate why these women deserve to be celebrated.'
Free 30-minute performances of ‘City of Women’ will be on the hour between 11am, 12 noon, 1pm and 2pm and 2.30pm at Leadenhall Market, Gracechurch St, EC3V 1LT
Free performances of City of Women will be given at Leadenhall Market ( 22 and 23 Sept), a significant location, because it was one of the first places in London where women were allowed to work.
The show forms part of Women: Work and Power, a season of 70 events across the City to celebrating the ground-breaking achievements of women.
Exploring women’s freedom of thought and religion, their right to work, to be financially and socially independent, and to vote and participate in public life, the performances will celebrate the suffragettes, famous female campaigners, and lesser-known women in the City who have defied expectations.
From the 17th-century cross-dressing pickpocket, Moll Cutpurse, and the 18th-century lace-making millionairess, Hester Pinney, to present-day figures such as former BBC China editor, Carrie Gracie, City of Women uses verbatim texts and music to tell the stories of these women in their own words.
Alongside the choir of the City of London School for Girls, soloists will perform five new anthems featuring excerpts from Emmeline Pankhurst’s 1913 speech ‘Freedom or Death’; campaigner Cicely Hamilton’s suffragette anthem The March of the Women; and poetry by Elizabeth Barratt Browning.
Graham Packham, chairman of the City of London Corporation’s culture, heritage and libraries committee, said: 'The City of London is often perceived as a historically male-dominated domain but, over the years, women have played a crucial role in shaping and developing the Square Mile. These women’s stories will allow modern audiences to understand what life was like for them and appreciate why these women deserve to be celebrated.'
Free 30-minute performances of ‘City of Women’ will be on the hour between 11am, 12 noon, 1pm and 2pm and 2.30pm at Leadenhall Market, Gracechurch St, EC3V 1LT
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| What | City of Women, Leadenhall Market |
| Nearest tube | Bank (underground) |
| When |
22 Sep 18 – 23 Sep 18, Half-hour performances on the hour |
| Price | £0 |
| Website | Click here for more information. No booking required |