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MRS GARRUD'S DOJO
By Peter Simon Hilton
Mrs. Garrud's dojo is inspired by the real
Edith Garrud, a militant suffragette, who instructed members of the
Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) in the martial art of jiu-jitsu
during the early years of the 20th century. From her dojo at no. 9 Argyll
Place, London, Mrs. Garrud trained a bodyguard of women to protect Emmeline
Pankhurst from police brutality whenever she spoke in public. An American,
Gertrude Harding, was appointed head of the WSPU bodyguard.
Using songs sung by British suffragettes in protest marches and by incorporating
actual jiu-jitsu moves notated by Edith in one of her pamphlets (published
1910), this one act play pokes fun at the now ludicrous arguments put
forward by the “antis” in a comedy of gender that reminds
us of those women who had to fight for the right to vote.
For information on the Women's Social & Political Union go to this Website
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CAST
Mrs. Edith Garrud ............................... Judi Lewis Ockler
Mrs. Gertrude Harding ............................. Carrie Brewer
Dr. William Armstrong ....................... Peter Simon Hilton
Miss Beatrice Harding ........................... Amanda Barron
Tom ........................................................ Mark
Silence
Dick ........................................ Michael Jerome Johnson
Harry ................................................ Campbell
Bridges
Silvia ................................................... Barbara
Brandt
Christabel ............................................ Courtney
Hogan
CREATIVE TEAM
Director ........................................... Peter
Simon Hilton
Fight Director ........................... Michael Jerome Johnson
Assistant Director ....................................... Dawn
Elane
Lighting Design .............................. Jennifer Linn Wilcox
Costume Design ........................................ Robin Mates
Stage Manager ....................................... Carol Sullivan
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Photographs by Anthony Collins © 2003
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