BURNABY / B. C. / V5A 1S6
TELEPHONE (604) 291-3221

 

 

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY NEWS

RELEASE

 

 

June 6, 1975 DOUGLAS COLLECE Lier

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IMMEDIATE

"Never explain, never apologize, never retract.
Get the thing done and let them howl."

Nellie McClung
1873-1951

Toronto's Red Light Theatre, a group of women frustrated by their
tradition in theatre, have taken the ‘words of Nellie McClung, Canada's leading
suffragette, added a chorus and created the play "WHAT GLORIOUS TIMES THEY HAD",

Centre for Communications and the Arts presents Red Light Theatre Tuesday
and Wednesday, June 17 and 18 at 8 pm in the SFU Theatre. The play concerns
Mrs. Nellie McClung and members of the Political Equality League and their
battles with Sir Rodmond Roblin, then Premier of Manitoba and a firm believer
that woman's place was in the home. Set in Winnipeg from 1912 to January 27,
1916, when the vote was won, the play uses six actors - four women and two men.
It features temperance songs of the era - "Going Dry", "Heaven Will Protect
the Working Girl" and "I Must Go Home Tonight".

The play is uniquely Canadian in t!.1t, unlike the British and American
suffragists, the Canadian women did not have to use force and military tactics
to win their end. They used wit and farce as their weapons.

Playwright/Director Diane Grant became interested in Nellie McClung
after the Canadian government issued an 8¢ stamp in 1973 which commemorated
the 100th anniversary of her birth.

Red Light Theatre was formed in 1974 to give women responsibility,
experience and opportunity in the theatre, and to provide a forum for women
artists, playwrights, directors, designers and actresses to do their work.

It is currently on a tour of Western Canada sponsored by the Secretary of State.

Tickets: $2.50 General, $1.50 Students. Phone the SFU Theatre Box Office
at 291-3514.

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Ref: Mary Trainer, Publicity Assistant, SFU Theatre, 291-3221

CA Centre for Comm

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unications and the Arts |

 

 

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