Josey is an audio musical inspired by Northumberland heroine, feminist and social reformer, Josephine Butler. It’s free on Spotify, Apple or wherever you download your podcasts. Josey uses binaural sound. For an optimum listening experience, we advise listening with headphones.
Foreword by Katie Doherty:
It has been a great rollercoaster of emotion working on this piece and this is only the beginning. From discovering for myself the extent of the incredible work that Josephine Butler did through her activism to talking to women of all ages about her and about what it means and what it takes to be a Female Activist in todays world. I have been fuelled, I have been frustrated, I have been very sad and I have been filled with hope - sometimes all in within the same hour! I guess the thing to stress is that there is just too much to say, so what we have here is the start of something more vital than I think I even realised when I began.
When I told my mum about the nature of the project and the issues it might be touching upon, she said, “Be careful”. I understand why she felt the need to say this, if I had a daughter I would feel exactly the same, because of the way the world treats those, especially women who put their heads above the parapet in even the smallest of ways, who use their voice, however gently. I can also relate to the reasons that mean that sometimes even when it seems that we can speak up, we don’t.
I am so grateful to all of the women, now and throughout history who have not held back on the causes they believe in, this includes those, of all ages who have generously and courageously spoken, shared, sung and played with us on this audio, it is much greater for you being a part of it.
There was a woman…
Josephine Butler (1828-1906) was an English feminist, social reformer and advocate for the rights of women. Now her story will be at the centre of a new audio musical written by singer – songwriter Katie Doherty, featuring the voices of women from across Northumberland.
There are so many issues – some not wholly different from those that concerned Josephine nearly 200 years ago – that women of today are passionate about and motivated to change in much the same way as Josephine Butler.
The production is being created with digital support agency The Space. This is the first time November Club has released an audio musical, exploring issues of activism and gender equality in an innovative way.
The digital venture will lead to a full live version of the musical in 2024 that November Club will work to bring to communities and venues across the North East and beyond.
Josey, the Indignant Daughter is provided free, if you would like to make a donation and help support the next stage of the work you can donate via our Just Giving Page.
“It’s been fascinating being involved in a project from such an early stage- from exchanging thoughts and ideas to seeing how these have been developed by Katie and turned into something so powerful and yet so beautiful. Katie has this incredible ability to do that - the beauty of her sound that encapsulates femininity along with the power and energy common to female trailblazers.”
Credits: Writer and Composer: Katie Doherty, Director: Joe Hufton, Sound Designer: Matthew Tuckey, Additional Sound Design, Mixing and Mastering: Andrew Cadie, Dramaturge: Maria Crocker, Sound Engineer: Adam Forster, Producer: Lizzie Vogler, Actors: Michael Blair and Karen Traynor, Young Girl: Betsy Sutton, Piano, lead vocals and prepared piano - Katie Doherty, Bass synth - Andrew Cadie, Drums and prepared piano - Adam Forster, Voices: Young people from Cramlington Learning Village and Duke’s Academy, Ashington, Further Stages at Stagecoach North Tyneside and members of the choir and their friends and families. Business and Operations Director: Andrea Perrett, Marketing and Audience Development: Kathryn Row, Participation Producer: Louise Taylor-Asheg, Young people from Cramlington Learning Village and Duke’s Academy, Ashington.
〰️
Credits: Writer and Composer: Katie Doherty, Director: Joe Hufton, Sound Designer: Matthew Tuckey, Additional Sound Design, Mixing and Mastering: Andrew Cadie, Dramaturge: Maria Crocker, Sound Engineer: Adam Forster, Producer: Lizzie Vogler, Actors: Michael Blair and Karen Traynor, Young Girl: Betsy Sutton, Piano, lead vocals and prepared piano - Katie Doherty, Bass synth - Andrew Cadie, Drums and prepared piano - Adam Forster, Voices: Young people from Cramlington Learning Village and Duke’s Academy, Ashington, Further Stages at Stagecoach North Tyneside and members of the choir and their friends and families. Business and Operations Director: Andrea Perrett, Marketing and Audience Development: Kathryn Row, Participation Producer: Louise Taylor-Asheg, Young people from Cramlington Learning Village and Duke’s Academy, Ashington. 〰️
The digital piece features a community choir of women from across Northumberland.
They are: Rachel Forster, Swee Gaik Seow, Christine Gardner, Sarah Gray, Rachel Gray, Sarah Hodgson, Jacqui Lille, Cath MacNaught, Sandra Whitton.
Here's a few pointers to make the most of your listening experience:
Josey is recorded using binaural sound, we recommend using headphones.
The piece lasts approximately 20 minutes. Make sure you're sat comfortably and can enjoy the experience undisturbed.
This is a story about an extraordinary woman in challenging times. As such, it contains references to anger, aggression and grief. Josey touches on child loss which some listeners may find upsetting.
The Space is the UK’s leading digital agency working in the cultural sector. Originally founded by the BBC and Arts Council England, the company supports arts, cultural and heritage organisations across the UK to build skills and produce digital creative content for online and broadcast platforms, as well as site-specific digital experiences. thespace.org | @thespacearts
Once you have listened to Josey, please let us know what you think. If you are on social media, send us a message and tag us in. Twitter: @November_Club Facebook: @NovemberClubMorpeth Instagram: @novemberclub
Please also take a few minutes to fill in our evaluation form by following this link. https://uk.culturecounts.cc/s/5Dqgs7
Commissioned by The Space.