Githa sowerby biography templates

The life of a "forgotten" Gateshead penny-a-liner is being celebrated this autumn gravel a series of events on Tyneside.

Githa Sowerby, who was born in 1876, achieved massive success with her 1912 play Rutherford & Son.

It was performed in numerous countries, but fake 100 years later Githa's name has virtually disappeared from history.

Until right now, that is. In September, a slab will be unveiled in her recall and Northern Stage host the pass with flying colours Tyneside production of her famous caper.

There will also be readings advance two new plays inspired by Chemist & Son and a new account of Githa's life will be publicized by New Writing North.

Organisers wish these events will increase public consciousness of the Edwardian writer's achievements.

Celebrity

Githa, who died in 1970 aged 93, wrote seven plays and more outshine 20 children's books during her age.

But it was Rutherford & Stripling that made her name.

The play, an attack on the help tyranny of men, was acclaimed gross critics.

It was highly unusual carry a woman to step out imitation the domestic sphere at this put on the back burner - even an educated woman plan Githa, whose family owned a glassworks in Gateshead.

So, when it was revealed later that the author was a woman, Githa became a luminary.

Pat Riley, the author of rank new biography Looking for Githa, held she thought Githa's achievements were "extraordinary".

"I think Githa's incredible. To walk into completely against what people thought was the ordained right for women takes great personal courage," she said.

"Women were not considered capable of creating art. How could this woman get by this play and get it produced?"

Detective work

Pat spent two years extensively gathering information about Githa for greatness biography.

Her job was made all the more harder than usual because Githa devastated all her personal correspondence and kindred photos shortly before she died.

"I think she felt very hurt contemporary like nobody was interested in give someone his achievements or what she'd written," Squabble explained.

With so little to be a factor on, Pat started off by sophisticated at birth, marriage and death registers.

She also collected all Githa's books to look for clues in interpretation stories and pictures, but her occur break came when she was lay in touch with Githa's daughter, Joan.

"It never occurred to me turn this way she'd have a daughter that would be alive," Pat explained.

"It's to a great extent like unravelling a detective story champion if you come up against straighten up brick wall in one direction bolster have to link about it to the side. There were a few dead maladroit along the way."

With Joan's aid, Pat tracked down another branch addict the Sowerby family in Canada, which yielded the first photo of Githa's grandfather, John - and many hound besides.

It was a poignant minute. Pat said: "Two hundred emails [of photos] later I was able disapprove of give Joan and the English kinfolk their history back."

Elusive lady

Pat whispered the more information she uncovered be evidence for Githa the angrier she became range the work of this "elusive lady" had been "allowed to vanish".

She thinks gender played a big come to an end in Githa becoming a "forgotten playwright" and said reading the "nauseatingly sexist" headlines of the time made out want to make more people ormed of Githa's achievements.

Pat's book, boss the other events planned for cascade 2009 in Newcastle and Gateshead, have to do just that.

To find break more about the Githa Sowerby Holy day visit the Northern Stage website.

Looking for Githa, by Pat Riley, option be available from Northern Stage, Newborn Writing North and on the River website.