One hundred years since women gained the right to vote and in the wake of the #MeToo movement, Jacksons Lane has gained funding from the Women’s Vote Centenary Fund for an exciting and groundbreaking theatre education project called Worlds by Women.

A collaboration between award-winning theatre director Katie Posner, visual artist Kazuko Hohki and professional playwright Yolanda Mercy, Worlds by Women seeks to inspire and empower young women by channeling their voices on what it means to be a woman in the 21st century.

75 students at three north London educational institutions (Christ’s College, Finchley; St Thomas More Catholic School, Wood Green; and Hornsey School for Girls) have been working with Posner and Hohki over a period of 10 weeks. The project explores women’s rights and the role of women in society, using the events of the 1918 suffragette and suffragist movements as inspiration to look forward into the future.

The project will culminate with three immersive, experimental performance-installations by the young women, after which there will be a debate around the themes that have been highlighted. Guest speakers from all generations will join audience members to participate in discussions around female economic and political empowerment, equality, inclusive space and girls’ education. The discussions will be live-streamed by production company Chocolate Films and composer James Frewer creates an original score.

The Women’s Vote Centenary Fund celebrates 100 years of women gaining the vote and acknowledges the struggle and sacrifice many women made.

Director Katie Posner says: “Theatre can offer the necessary space to ask difficult questions in an open forum. I want to explore how society empowers young women and what this could mean for future generations. Can a project such as this effect social change by shining a light on voices that we don’t often hear or listen to?”

Performances will take place from November 27 to 29 at 6pm and 7.30pm. Hornsey School for Girls will perform on November 27, Christ’s College on November 28 and St Thomas More Catholic School on November 29.