The Methuen Drama book of Suffrage Plays

This selection of plays contains a range of one act and short pieces written by suffragist writers, both male and female, between 1908 and 1914. The introduction is really helpful and gives a brief synopsis of each text as well as some information on the playwright and the context of each play. It also offers information on female or male roles within each text. As a classroom tool, these quick pieces of information let you know immediately whether each play is what you're looking for.

The plays themselves offer a wide selection of themes, some satirical and some a more serious look at the plight of women and the suffrage movement. There is a great deal of scope for using this book in the classroom for both Drama and PSHE. At all stages from key stage three to A level there are thought provoking texts for monologue, duologue, group performance or as stimulus for devising, all of which could be used for examination work.

The plays offer an historical look at suffrage and although there is a serious side to the themes in the texts, many of the plays explore comic characters which widens the appeal of the book further.

There are also opportunities for exciting ensemble work, in particular Anti-Suffrage Waxworks. The text also contains a range of historical photos which would be incredibly useful be as a stimulus to begin work or to encourage students to start their own research projects.

Highly recommended.