One of the opening plays in the new revamped Leeds Playhouse looks at how women living in Leeds in the 1970s lived with the knowledge that a murderer was at large in the city. But this is not a play about the Yorkshire Ripper; instead, it explores the solidarity that formed amongst women, leading to the birth of the Reclaim the Night movement.

The Feminist Archive North has assisted the writer and director of There Are No Beginnings and we are providing some posters, placards and other materials from the time for a display to accompany the play. In addition, one of our volunteers will lead a post-show discussion on activism and solidarity after the matinee performance on Thursday 31 October.

The cast of four women includes Julie Hesmonhalgh and local actor Natalie Gavin. The play runs from 11 October to 2 November. More information and booking here

In this centenary year of the Women’s Engineering Society Lynette Willoughby, FAN volunteer and past president of WES, will introduce this fascinating talk.

Electrifying Women: Celebrating a Century of Female Engineers

Saturday 22^nd June 2pm

Free public lecture by Graeme Gooday

Sanderson Room, 3rd floor, Leeds Central Library, Headrow

Free tickets available here

In collaboration with the Women’s Engineering Society and the Science Museum, and supported by a Follow-Funding grant from the Arts & Humanities Research Council

Image courtesy of the Women’s Engineering Society and the Institution of Engineering & Technology

In the centenary year of the Women’s Engineering Society, Prof Graeme Gooday (University of Leeds) explains how and why the Society came into being, and discusses the roles of two Yorkshire women.

For more information about the venue please contact Inga Kobzeva.

Leeds City Museum, Saturday 15 June, 11am-3pm

Calling all women activists!

Remembering Resistance: A Century of Women’s Protest in the North of England is a project from Lancaster University that brings the history of women’s activism to life.

The project, is holding an event at Leeds City Museum in association with the museum’s community engagement team, Feminist Archive North and Chapel FM. Activities will be held all day in the Broderick Hall where you can record your memories of protest and contribute to what we know about activism in the city.

From 12pm talks will take place in the Conference Room:

• Dr Sarah Marsden will speak about the women’s liberation movement and its future
• Sandra McNeill and Paula Smith from Feminist Archive North will talk about their own stories of activism and the archive itself

Make sure your voice is heard, celebrate your achievements
and inspire the next generation of activists!

CALLING ALL WOMEN ACTIVISTS – Lancaster University, with Heritage Lottery funding, is collecting stories of women’s activism and campaigning in the north of England. FAN is working with this project on an exhibition and day of talks in Leeds City Museum on 15th June (sorry for previous wrong date posted here) and we’re also encouraging women to participate in this project – contact them to be interviewed about all the great feminist activism you’ve been involved in!