Actresses' Franchise League

Connections

Connections Author name Sort descending Excerpt
Textual Production Elizabeth Baker
The 1930 Players were a group organized by Inez Bensusan , an Australian-born actress and playwright who had been instrumental in forming the Actresses' Franchise League . Penelope Forgives was never published, but a typescript...
Occupation Inez Bensusan
This was her most challenging project as head of the Play Department of the Actresses' Franchise League . She hoped a West End theatre would pick up the production, but none did.
Hirshfield, Claire. “The Woman’s Theatre in England: 1913-1918”. Theatre History Studies, Vol.
15
, pp. 123-37.
125
Occupation Inez Bensusan
This organisation, still closely associated with the Actresses' Franchise League , was responsible for staging at least 654 performances during the First World War. Musical and variety shows were the most popular events, but IB
Occupation Inez Bensusan
After the war, the Actresses' Franchise League lost its momentum and many of its members turned their attention to the British Drama League and the founding of a National Theatre.
Hirshfield, Claire. “The Woman’s Theatre in England: 1913-1918”. Theatre History Studies, Vol.
15
, pp. 123-37.
135
Occupation Inez Bensusan
At the beginning of the Second World War, IB attempted to coordinate an operation similar to the one she organised with the Actresses' Franchise League during the First World War providing entertainment for soldiers, but...
Textual Production Inez Bensusan
It had another performance at the Laurels in Putney on 14 July 1911.
Nicoll, Allardyce. English Drama, 1900-1930. Cambridge University Press.
508
The Actresses' Franchise League published the play in 1912. The Apple was the only one of IB 's plays to reach...
Employer Inez Bensusan
IB became manager of the Play Department of the Actresses' Franchise League . In this position she mobilised writers to contribute plays to the suffrage cause.
Hirshfield, Claire. “The Woman’s Theatre in England: 1913-1918”. Theatre History Studies, Vol.
15
, pp. 123-37.
123-4
Occupation Inez Bensusan
The Play Department of the Actresses' Franchise League , headed by IB , held its first series of performances at a Votes for Women Exhibition at the Prince's Skating Rink in Knightsbridge.
Hirshfield, Claire. “The Woman’s Theatre in England: 1913-1918”. Theatre History Studies, Vol.
15
, pp. 123-37.
124
Holledge, Julie. Innocent Flowers: Women in the Edwardian Theatre. Virago.
63, 205 n20-1
Occupation Inez Bensusan
The Play Department of the Actresses' Franchise League , directed by IB , helped to raise suffrage funds with matinees of short plays and sketches at the Kingsway , Royalty and Lyceum theatres in London.
Hirshfield, Claire. “The Woman’s Theatre in England: 1913-1918”. Theatre History Studies, Vol.
15
, pp. 123-37.
124
Occupation Inez Bensusan
Woman's Theatre Week, organised by IB under the auspices of the Actresses' Franchise League , was launched at the Coronet Theatre in London.
Hirshfield, Claire. “The Woman’s Theatre in England: 1913-1918”. Theatre History Studies, Vol.
15
, pp. 123-37.
125
Occupation Inez Bensusan
The Actresses' Franchise League launched the Woman's Theatre War Relief Matinees , a series of benefit performances organised by IB , Janette Steer , and others to raise funds for a variety of wartime charities.
Hirshfield, Claire. “The Woman’s Theatre in England: 1913-1918”. Theatre History Studies, Vol.
15
, pp. 123-37.
132
Author summary Inez Bensusan
Inez Bensusan was an Australian-born actress who played a prominent role in the Actresses' Franchise League in London. Although she wrote only three one-act plays herself, as head of the AFL Play Department she...
Cultural formation Inez Bensusan
Little information is available about IB 's early life in Australia, before she emigrated to England and became active in the women's suffrage movement and the Actresses' Franchise League . Her family was part...
politics Edith Craig
EC became a member of the newly formed Actresses' Franchise League .
Stowell, Sheila. A Stage of Their Own. University of Michigan Press.
41
politics Kate Parry Frye
She found the occasion amusing and exhilarating; she rushed around and flirted with men; but she continued her account: But I am in earnest. I really do feel a great belief in the need of...

Timeline

10 December 1908: The inaugural meeting of the Actresses' Franchise...

National or international item

10 December 1908

The inaugural meeting of the Actresses' Franchise League was held at the Criterion Restaurant in London.

May 1909: Gertrude Jennings's one-act suffrage play...

Women writers item

May 1909

Gertrude Jennings 's one-act suffrage playA Woman's Influence was performed at the Votes for Women Exhibition at the Prince's Skating Rink in Knightsbridge.

By 27 February 1911: The secretary of the Actresses' Franchise...

Building item

By 27 February 1911

The secretary of the Actresses' Franchise League organised a feminist production of Wilde 's Salome (reviewed on this date).

From November 1914: The Actresses' Franchise League, led by Lena...

Building item

From November 1914

The Actresses' Franchise League , led by Lena Ashwell , organised entertainment for troops, first at English army bases and later in France; these eventually became known as Concerts at the Front.

Early 1915: Lena Ashwell used her Actresses' Franchise...

Women writers item

Early 1915

Lena Ashwell used her Actresses' Franchise League connections to recruit the popular farce writer, Gertrude Jennings , to write plays for Concerts at the Front.

2 February 1927: Margaret Rhondda, as Chairman of the Equal...

National or international item

2 February 1927

Margaret Rhondda , as Chairman of the Equal Political Rights Campaign Committee , with many other suffrage veterans, signed a letter to the editor of The Times pressing for women to vote on equal terms with men.

Texts

Bensusan, Inez. The Apple. Actresses’ Franchise League, 1912.
Glover, Evelyn. A Chat with Mrs. Chicky. Actresses’ Franchise League, 1912.
Glover, Evelyn. Miss Appleyard’s Awakening. Actresses’ Franchise League, 1912.