Spring Production - 2026

 

Blue Stockings

’by Jessica Swale,

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Directed by Stephanie Somerville & Dale Brown

PRODUCTION DATES: Wednesday 15th - Saturday 18th April 2026

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Auditions:

Sunday 7 December 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM

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About the play:

 

Set in 1896 at Girton College, Cambridge, Blue Stockings follows four pioneering
young women fighting for the right to graduate alongside their male peers. Against
the backdrop of the women’s suffrage movement, the play explores themes of
equality, education, and self-determination. It’s a witty, moving, and thought-
provoking story about ambition, love, and the courage to challenge societal norms.

 

Characters:

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THE GIRTON GIRLS

 

TESS MOFFAT, a curious girl (f, aged late teens - early 20s)

 

Tess is one of the students are Girton, one of the young women striving to earn the
right to graduate. Tess provides the humour, warmth and lightness amongst the
group of students. Tess is friendly, sociable and full of curiosity, bringing balance to
the groups academic and political debates.

 

Personality & Qualities:
•    Cheerful and witty
•    Warm hearted and loyal
•    Inquisitive and eager
•    Romantic and open
•    Naïve but brave
 

CELIA WILLBOND, a fragile hard-worker (f, aged late teens - early 20s)

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Celia is one of the four Girton college students. Celia is bright, well meaning, and
deeply conscientious. Celia represents the more dutiful and socially aware side of
the women’s movement: while she believes in education and equality, she is
cautious about how far to challenge the established order.

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Personality & Qualities
•    Gentle, and well mannered
•    Diligent and earnest
•    Moral and loyal
•    Conflict-averse
•    Sensitive and empathetic
 

CAROLYN ADDISON, an early bohemian (f, aged late teens - early 20s)

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Carolyn is one of the students at Girton college. Carolyn is bold, witty and fiercely
independent with a sharp tongue and rebellious streak. Carolyn stands out as the
most outspoken of the Girton girls, unafraid to question authority, and challenge the
social norms as well as push boundaries. Her confidence and humour make her
charismatic and occasionally provocative.

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Personality & Qualities:
•    Confident and outspoken
•    Rebellious and free-thinking
•    Clever and quick witted
•    Supportive, yet teasing
•    Passionate but pragmatic
 

MAEVE SULLIVAN, a mystery (f, late 20s – early 30s)

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Maeve is an intelligent, strong-willed woman with a fierce passion for women’s rights and education. As a central figure in Blue Stockings, she faces the pressures of both personal sacrifice and societal opposition in her pursuit of higher education. Maeve embodies the struggle between her intellectual ambitions and the limitations imposed by society on women.

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Personality & Qualities:
•    Determined and resilient
•    Deeply passionate about women’s rights
•    Intelligent and articulate
•    Struggles with balancing personal life and ambition
•    Strong sense of justice and fairness
 

THE BOYS

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RALPH MAYHEW, a charming young man (m, early - mid 20s)

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Ralph is a student who embodies the charm and privilege of the time. While he is not
initially interested in the struggles of the women at Girton, he slowly begins to realize
the importance of education for all. Though his growth is gradual, he is a well-
meaning character who finds himself torn between tradition and the need for change.

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Personality & Qualities:
•    Charming and charismatic
•    Privileged but growing awareness of gender inequality
•    Gentle and well-intentioned
•    Initially naïve but slowly more open-minded
•    Struggles with personal and societal expectations

 

LLOYD, a confident and practical student (m, early – mid 20s)

Lloyd is a straightforward and pragmatic character, focused on his academic
achievements. While he represents the male students of the time, his character arc
involves coming to terms with the broader social changes and the importance of
equality in education.

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Personality & Qualities:
•    Confident and self-assured
•    Practical and methodical
•    Has traditional views but begins to question them
•    Ambitious and driven
•    Rational and logical

 

HOLMES, a reserved and intelligent young man (m, early – mid 20s)

Holmes is quiet and thoughtful, with a deep respect for knowledge. He initially comes
across as aloof but is a character who gradually shows a growing respect for the
women fighting for their right to be educated. His character reflects the quiet allies
who support the cause in their own subtle way.

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Personality & Qualities:
•    Quiet and introspective
•    Highly intelligent and studious
•    Initially indifferent but grows supportive of women’s education
•    Loyal, though often reserved
•    Rational thinker

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EDWARDS, a friendly but conflicted student (m, early – mid 20s)

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Edwards is a character caught between tradition and change. He represents the
younger generation of men who have not fully internalized the value of women’s
higher education. Friendly and sociable, Edwards struggles with his perceptions of
the role of women in academia.

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Personality & Qualities:
•    Friendly and easy-going
•    Sometimes unsure of his own beliefs
•    Struggles with conflicting ideas about gender and education
•    Socially aware, but slow to change
•    Deep down, has a sense of fairness

 

WILL BENNETT, a progressive young man (m, early – mid 20s)

Will is one of the more forward-thinking male characters in the play. He is supportive
of the women’s fight for education and is ready to challenge the entrenched social
norms. Will plays an important role as an ally to the women of Girton, advocating for
change.

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Personality & Qualities:
•    Progressive and idealistic
•    Supportive of women’s rights and education
•    Outspoken and passionate about equality
•    Determined to challenge societal norms
•    Thoughtful and empathetic

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THE STAFF

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ELIZABETH WELSH, a supportive and nurturing staff member (f, 40s – 50s)

Elizabeth is a compassionate figure in the play, offering guidance and care to the
students. As a staff member at Girton, she is supportive of the women’s right to
education but also holds a deep understanding of the practical challenges they face.

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Personality & Qualities:
•    Nurturing and supportive
•    Wise and experienced
•    Strong moral compass
•    Deeply empathetic to the students’ struggles
•    Often plays the role of the mediator

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DR. MAUDSLEY, a traditionalist with rigid views (m, 50s)

Dr. Maudsley is a staunch traditionalist who represents the established academic
views of the time. He is sceptical of women’s education, believing that it will disrupt
the natural order. His views clash with the ambitions of the female students at Girton.

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Personality & Qualities:
•    Rigid and conservative
•    Highly intellectual but narrow-minded
•    Deeply sceptical of women’s intellectual capabilities
•    Strongly believes in traditional gender roles
•    Controversial and often adversarial

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MR. BANKS, a condescending and dismissive figure (m, 40s – 50s)

Mr. Banks embodies the societal attitudes of the time, representing authority and the
belief that women should not be allowed the same educational opportunities as men. His dismissive attitude toward the students highlights the challenges they face.

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Personality & Qualities:
•    Condescending and patronizing
•    Firm believer in the status quo
•    Dismissive of women’s rights to higher education
•    Traditional and out of touch with the changing world
•    Self-important and authoritative

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PROF. COLLINS, a reluctant academic (m, 50s)

Professor Collins is an academic who feels the tension between tradition and the
changing times. Though he is not entirely opposed to the idea of women attending
university, he remains uncertain and reluctant to fully embrace the idea.

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Personality & Qualities:
•    Scholarly but hesitant
•    Struggles to reconcile tradition with progress
•    Thoughtful but cautious in his approach to change
•    Sometimes passive in his decisions
•    Shows growing support for the women’s cause

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PROF. ANDERSON, a progressive-minded professor (m, 40s – 50s)

Professor Anderson is an ally to the women’s cause, providing intellectual support to
the female students. He represents those in academia who are forward-thinking and
willing to break with tradition to support equal opportunities in education.

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Personality & Qualities:
•    Progressive and supportive
•    Highly intellectual and open-minded
•    Advocates for gender equality in education
•    Compassionate and encouraging to his students
•    Seeks change in academic and social norms

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PROF. RADLEIGH, a practical and realistic academic (m, 50s)

Professor Radleigh is practical and sensible, not as overtly progressive as Anderson
but still open to the ideas of change. He is more focused on the realistic aspects of
the situation and tries to find a middle ground.

Personality & Qualities:
•    Practical and grounded
•    Open to change but cautious
•    Focused on the academic aspects of the debate
•    Realistic and solution-oriented
•    Less overtly political but quietly supportive

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MINNIE, a kind-hearted assistant (f, 20s/30s)

Minnie is a sweet and helpful character who works in the background to support the
main characters. While not directly involved in the academic debates, she provides
emotional support and a sense of camaraderie.

Personality & Qualities:
•    Kind-hearted and gentle
•    Supportive and nurturing
•    Empathetic to the struggles of the students
•    Quiet but attentive
•    Works behind the scenes to offer support

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MR. PECK, a strict and no-nonsense figure (m, 40s)

Mr. Peck is a strict and authoritative figure, often enforcing the rules and regulations
at Girton. He represents the bureaucratic side of the institution and is not easily
swayed by the students’ desires for change.

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Personality & Qualities:
•    Stern and disciplinary
•    Adheres strictly to rules and regulations
•    Resistant to change
•    Authoritative and firm
•    Often the enforcer of institutional expectations

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MISS BOTT, a prim and proper staff member (f, 30s – 50s)

Miss Bott is a proper and conservative staff member who upholds the traditional
values of the institution. She may be sympathetic to the students but is deeply rooted
in the established social norms.

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Personality & Qualities:
•    Proper and conservative
•    Supportive but limited in her views
•    Focused on maintaining order and tradition
•    Subtly challenges the students’ ambitions but with kindness
•    Adheres to social norms

 

OTHER SUPPORTING ROLES

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BILLY SULLIVAN, Maeve’s supportive brother (m, 20s/30s)

Billy is a warm-hearted and caring figure in Maeve’s life. While not directly involved
in the academic debate, his loyalty and support of his sister highlight the personal
struggles behind the larger social issue.

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Personality & Qualities:
•    Supportive and loyal
•    Kind-hearted and caring
•    Struggles with the societal norms but wants the best for his sister
•    Empathetic and understanding
•    A family-oriented individual

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MRS. LINDLEY, a conservative figure (f, 40-60s)

Mrs. Lindley is a traditionalist who holds firm beliefs about women’s place in society.
She is often unsympathetic to the struggles of the women at Girton and represents
the older, more conservative views.

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Personality & Qualities:
•    Conservative and traditional
•    Unsympathetic to the women’s fight for education
•    Firm believer in gender roles
•    Often resistant to change
•    Strict and unwavering in her beliefs

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There are also some other smaller cameo parts such as people in cafes/rallies etc.
 

​​If you are interested, or have any questions, please do get in touch with Stephanie or Dale