Leeds City Council is looking to commission a Leeds arts organisation to work with a community cast to produce and perform a one hour theatre performance as part of the Leeds Women 2018 programme of events celebrating 100 years since some women first got the vote.

Leeds City Council is looking to commission a Leeds arts organisation to work with a community cast to produce and perform a one hour theatre performance as part of the Leeds Women 2018 programme of events celebrating 100 years since some women first got the vote. The prospective launch event/performance date is Friday 14 December in line with the first General Election that some women could vote in. The event will be open to the general public and tickets will be free of charge.

The prospective venue for the launch event is Leeds Civic Hall.

The play will be based on the life of lesser known Leeds suffragette, Leonora Cohen and the suffrage movement in Leeds recognising the struggle and progress achieved by women working towards achieving equality and recognition. The play will be launched on Friday 14 December with a full community cast of between 10-15 people and our ambition is for it to tour schools, community hubs, neighbourhood networks and other community events throughout 2019 with a scaled down cast, pending further funding.

The production will be funded by Leeds City Council using the Government Equalities Offices’ Women's Suffrage Centenary Fund.

The selected organisation will be required to do the following:

• Write and direct the play
• Recruit the cast
• Organise rehearsals and a rehearsal space
• Purchase/provide all costume and set pieces
• Provide all equipment for the performanc
• Perform the play
• Market the event
• Evaluate the project

The scope of the play could include:

• The life of Leonora Cohen
• The Suffrage movement in Leeds
• Key milestones in the history of the women’s movement

• The Representation of the People Act 1918
• Parliament (Qualification of Women) Act 1918
• The General Election where women could vote for the first time in December 1918
• Life of other Leeds Women such as Mary Gawthorpe and Isabella Ford

For further information about Leeds Women 2018, go to: https://www.leeds.gov.uk/Pages/Leeds-Women-2018.aspx

If you are selected we can arrange for a staff member from Leeds Museums to come and talk to you and your group about Leonora Cohen and the suffrage movement in Leeds if you feel it would be useful.

The cast should include women who are marginalised and underrepresented in the decision making process from Leeds and should reflect the diversity of Leeds. It may be possible for us to link you to community groups in order to recruit the community cast.

We can also make arrangements for you to visit the venue and to view the equipment that is available for the performance.

Total fee: Maximum £18,000 (to include materials, staff time and any stage requirements)

Payment Schedule:

£5000 on receipt of an invoice and signed contract

£5000 on receipt of an invoice and start of rehearsals

£8000 on receipt of an invoice on completion of project and evaluation

Successful organisations will have to provide marketing information about the performance by 21st September, and submit a brief evaluation of the project on completion.

Shortlisted candidates will be notified by Friday 29th June. Interviews will take place on Tuesday 10th July. Leeds City Council reserves the right to re-open the call or not to make an award if applications are deemed unsuitable.