FOLLOWING on the skirts of the suffragettes in York Theatre Royal's summer community production, Everything is Possible, will be a new work that explores the challenges for women who want to speak out today.

York people have been enlisted again, this time to help playwright and poet Hannah Davies and theatre director Eleanor Rhode research a new project, Maiden Speeches.

The rehearsed reading, due to be performed in the theatre's studio will be inspired by the challenges facing outspoken women everywhere; a new play about being bold, speaking out and not giving up.

Volunteers took part in a research workshop on Wednesday to share their stories and explore this subject through drama games and discussions.

And York Central MP Rachael Maskell has helped mentor Hannah and Eleanor, with insights into being a woman in politics and through organising a research trip to Westminster where the director and writer hope to collect stories from other female politicians at a drop-in for female MPs.

Hannah said: "The idea to explore what the challenges are now, 100 years after the suffragettes, came out of Everything is Possible and a discussion I had with the lead actor in that play, Barbara Marten, who will also perform in Maiden Speeches.

"It will explore what women are still up against in having a voice. Since the suffragettes we have seen a feminist movement and a post-feminist culture, a ladette culture and I think now we are seeing a new wave of feminism. It's not just a play about politics but about any kind of speaking."

Eleanor, who recently directed Boudica for the Globe Theatre, said she was interested in the challenges for female MPs, such as Jess Phillips and Mhairi Black, who are breaking the mould in Westminster.

"These are young women who have made passionate maiden speeches when they have stood up for the first time, unlike any that have been heard in Westminster before. They are in an alien place full of rules and tradition. We've heard Jo Cox talking about refugees and Black about poverty.

"I hope more York residents and theatre-goers will get involved in the discussion when Maiden Speeches is read in February."

You can get in touch with Hannah on Twitter through @DaviesHC and the York Theatre Royal Facebook page.