THE legacy of the women who fought for their right to vote was celebrated by a group of street theatre performers in Kendal at the weekend.

Amateur actors shackled themselves to Kendal library’s railings and marched through the town, raising awareness for a theatre festival they are holding throughout July.

To mark 100 years since some women got the vote, a festival will be held featuring five plays at locations around Kendal.

The production is called ‘The Trouble with Women.’

The men and women involved in the promotional march dressed as suffragettes in purple, green and white sashes, and carryied ‘votes for women’ placards.

Representatives of Kendal Parr, Kendal Castle and Silverdale WI, the Guides and the Feminist Socialist Group marched along with more than 50 women from across the whole of the South Lakeland.

They were accompanied by five musicians, two ‘policemen’ and the Town Crier Richard Matthews.

Speeches in the style of those given by leading suffrage campaigners - including Emmeline Pankhurst - were also heard, performed by members of Kendal Community Theatre.

There were also speeches from local activists Eleanor Acland, Mary Cropper and Theodora Wilson Wilson.

The plays to be performed in July are Greek tragedy Antigone; Handbagged, about encounters between The Queen and Margaret Thatcher; Big Fat Pig; How We Won the Vote; and Changing Times. “We want people to talk about the plays, about women and power and about equality,” added Caroline Moir, Kendal Community Theatre’s publicity coordinator.

Visit www.kendalcommunitytheatre.org