This project began in 2022 when, thanks to funding from The Space, we plotted a path to producing a 20 minute digital musical, written and performed by Katie Doherty, with a women’s community choir, that we released for free on International Women’s Day in March 2023. Our digital musical was included in the Guardian’s list of best theatre to stream in April 2023. 

You can listen to it here. 

You can read more about the development on a previous post here.

In March 2024 we presented a work-in-progress performance to a sell out crowd at the Common Room in Newcastle. Showcasing how the show had developed over the past year. For this performance Katie was joined on stage by musicians Jeremy Bradfield and Andrew Cadie, along with performers Zoe Lambert (Josey) and Chloe Millar (Zara).

Synopsis  

 ‘Josey, The Indignant Daughter’, is a new musical inspired by the life and work of 19th century social reformer, Josephine Butler, written and composed by Katie Doherty. 

 Meet Zara, a 17-year-old High School student from Cramlington, Northumberland. Zara is quiet, thoughtful, considered and studious, with a keen dislike of injustice. She sticks to the rules, avoids drama and prefers to go largely un-noticed…singing and dancing confined solely to her bedroom 

 That is, until she is catapulted, at lightning speed, into the spotlight, and not one she ever would have chosen. This one is confronting and confusing and will trigger the most profound fight or flight response she has ever experienced.  

 A momentary act that will make her question everything.  

 Not least…a dead 19th Century social reformer landing smack bang in the middle of her bedroom floor.  

 What would Josephine Butler do?  

 How can Josey help Zara find a way through this mess to discover a spotlight and a voice that suits her?  

 How can Zara help Josey come to terms with a life of work feeling wasted, a grief never voiced and, well…the 21st century? 

This performance was built from further engagement with young women in Northumberland, supporting the development of a contemporary narrative that could sit alongside and intertwine with the story of Josephine Butler. Through workshops and conversations, the character of Zara was created and, from November 2023 – March 2024, we held listening parties across Northumberland, capturing incredible feedback along the way. 

A note from Writer and Composer, Katie Doherty 

I discovered Josephine whilst researching prominent female characters from the North East of England. I was drawn to her because she sounded completely bad ass. My curiosity was piqued because, to have done what she did, (and I’d urge you to look her up) at the time that she did it, meant she must have been Some Woman (capital letters intended). Those kind of women scare me slightly, and intrigue me greatly, because, as all women know, it’s not easy to be a woman who does anything remotely out of the ordinary, or who speaks up against injustice, or challenges power, or fights for change, in 2024, never mind at a time when we were supposed to be seen and not heard, talented but not too accomplished, eloquent but not too articulate, chaste but…well you get the picture. Oh dear, sound familiar?  

 And here in lies the story really. This is a tale of History repeating…or not quite this time.  

 I have spent time with some wonderful young women and men who are currently at High School in South East Northumberland. They are brilliantly, but not effortlessly, navigating their possibilities as best they can, in this post-pandemic age of social media overload, mental health crisis, cost of living crisis, you name it there’s a crisis, time we find ourselves in.  

 In March 2023, with November Club, we produced a 20 minute audio piece which was the beginning of this project. The voices and observations of those High School Students featured heavily and it was in their voices, the power of the piece lay. They know their stuff and they can talk about it much more profoundly than many of them believe they can.  

 Some things are radically different to the late 1800’s and some things…not so much. None of them had ever heard of Josephine Butler and yet, once we talked about her, once we questioned why we had not heard of her – their curiosity was also piqued, some of them were slightly scared too, I think all were intrigued greatly. Josey’s story is a very interesting one and relevant in many different ways, not least for the questions it summons.  

Next Steps 

‘Josey’ has a cast of 6 (with 4 actor musicians) and a community choir (of up to 15 people). Our actor musicians are on the keyboard, drums, cello and fiddle. It is light on its feet but tremendously powerful in its sound and its message.  

 We are looking for partners to join us in the next stage of this project as we tour the production for the first time. We are open to exploring all opportunities and means of support to produce this wonderful show.  

 If you’re interested in starting a conversation please get in touch with Artistic Director, Joe Hufton, on joe@novemberclub.org.uk