Telling the life story of 18th century British writer, philosopher and advocate of women's rights Mary Wollstonecraft, new play with music Mary and the Hyenas premieres at Hull Truck Theatre (February 7-March 1) in a co-production with Pilot Theatre .
Wollstonecraft (1759–1797) was a moral and political philosopher whose A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792) is widely regarded as the founding document of modern feminism. Mary and the Hyenas tries to capture the spirit and resilience of the pioneer, who defied the conventions of her time and kept going when many wanted to bring her down.
Writer Maureen Lennon said: “I've been obsessed with Mary's story since I was a teenager; getting to share her voice with the young women of today is such a privilege.
"She's an icon who blazed ahead of her time; she has so much to say to us now - stuff about bravery and passion and how you muster the courage to change the world. It feels like we all need some of that fire right now.”
Songwriter Billy Nomates (Tor Maries) said: “I didn't know about Mary Wollstonecraft, but her story is a compelling one; she was a true trailblazer but also a human being, ahead of her 1800s environment.
"I wanted to bring the music into a contemporary place, but not wholly defined by now; an attitude and feeling that resonates across the ages.”
Director Esther Richardson added: “I’ve long been curious about how to give Mary Wollstonecraft a fitting tribute in a theatre production. When Maureen brought us the idea for this play, a vision for how to create the show was galvanised.”
More info and tickets here