MAGGIE Smales, director of this week's York premiere of Blue Stockings, has discovered a York link to the original Bluestockings movement.

"It was so exciting to have learned that Elizabeth Montagu, christened 'Queen of the Bluestockings' by Samuel Johnson, used to live at Treasurer’s House in York," says Maggie.

"We’ve been able to share some excellent mutual publicity with this ‘National Trust house of contradictions’. We also realised something else that we have in common: Blue Stockings opens at York Theatre Royal tomorrow and Treasurer’s House opens for the 2017 season on the same day!"

Cast members Beth Stevens, Kosi Carter and Amelia Twiddle have visited Treasurer's House, dressed in character as Maeve Sullivan, Celia Willbond and Carolyn Addison respectively.

Running in the Theatre Royal Studio from tomorrow until March 11, Jessica Swale's play asks the question: "What if you had to choose? Between love and knowledge. What would you choose?".

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

Swale's play chronicles this real event that coincided with the growing campaign for suffrage. "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," says Maggie. "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.

"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. 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."

Following on from her all-female production of Henry V for York Shakespeare Project in 2015, Maggie wanted to find a play that illuminated an aspect of women's history. "My Henry V show had brought to light the story of the Barnbow munitions factory workers in Leeds in World War One," she says.

"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. In the light of recent campaigns to widen access to education for girls across the globe, this was a story to be told."

Tickets the 7.45pm evening performances and 2pm Saturday matinee of Blue Stockings are on sale at £14, concessions £12, on 01904 623568 or at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk