WHAT if you had to choose between love and knowledge? What would you choose? So asks Jessica Swale in her play Blue Stockings, whose York premiere will be staged by York Settlement Community Players in the Theatre Royal Studio in March.

"Opening at The Globe Theatre in London, Swale’s hit play first delighted audiences in a rollicking production from the 2013 season," says Settlement director Maggie Smales.

"Now, just four years later, it demonstrates Settlement Players’ commitment to bringing recent and exciting work to the attention of York audiences. It also sets the scene for York Theatre Royal and Pilot Theatre’s forthcoming community production, Everything Is Possible, which features the stories of York suffragettes in 1913."

In Blue Stockings, Tess, Carolyn, Celia and Maeve are students at Girton, an all-female college of Cambridge University. They want to graduate like their male peers but it is 1896 and neither the academic establishment nor most of society is ready for this. Nevertheless, their tutor succeeds in bringing their campaign to a vote by the board of trustees, at the risk of endangering their circumstances further.

York Press:

Settlement Players' promotional artwork for Blue Stockings

"The play chronicles this real event that coincided with the growing campaign for suffrage," says Maggie. "It was just one step on the road to equality of opportunity for women and was met with fierce and ugly opposition, culminating in a riot on the streets of Cambridge. The so called ‘bluestockings’ had a long way to go but their strong spirit and persistence was an important element in the story of suffrage, equality and emancipation for women."

Swale adds authenticity to the drama by drawing all her characters from history, such as Elizabeth Welsh, a Girton tutor, who led the campaign and will be played by Settlement stalwart Beryl Nairn.

"Although committed to their choice and pursuit of academic achievement, the girls of Girton want to share all that life offers and live life to the full," says Maggie.

"They are constrained by social mores and prejudicial practices but dare to confront these and to follow their own paths where possible. They want to be free to love, to travel, to dance and drink deep in the joy of living. We can share their pleasure in breaking a few rules! The play reflects all the fun as well as the trials of their year."

York Press:

Next step: Settlement Players to stage Blue Stockings in March

Maggie wanted to find a play that illuminated an aspect of women's history, in the wake of her all-female 2015 production of Henry V bringing to light the story of Barnbow munitions factory workers in Leeds in the First World War.

"I knew of the 'bluestockings' but was shocked to find that women had not been able to graduate at Cambridge until much later in the 20th century," she says. "In the light of recent campaigns to widen access to education for girls across the globe, this was a story to be told."

Joining Beryl Nairn in the cast will be Charlotte Wood as Tess Moffat; Kosi Carter as Celia Willbone; Amelia Twiddle, Carolyn Addison; Beth Stevens, Maeve Sullivan; Thomas Barry, Ralph Mayhew; Finn Ella, Lloyd, and Matthew Dangerfield, Edwards/Billy.

David Phillipps  will play Holmes/Prof Radleigh; Matt Pattison, Will Bennett; Sophie Buckley, Miss Blake; Mike Hickman, Mr Banks; Paul Toy, Dr Maudsley/Prof Anderson; Damian Fynes, Prof Collins/Mr Peck; Stephanie Wood, Miss Bott, and Rachel Price, Minnie. Musical direction will be by Rosy Rowley, working with original music by Sam McAvoy.

Blue Stockings will run from March 1 to 11 at 7.45pm nightly plus a 2pm matinee on March 4. Tickets cost £14, concessions £12, on 01904 623568 or at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk