AFTER last June's community play Everything Is Possible: The York Suffragettes at York Theatre Royal highlighted the unheralded suffrage deeds of Annie Seymour Pearson, Mikron Theatre Company turn the spotlight on Sylvia Pankhurst in Revolting Women.

Sylvia's stoical work in the cause of bringing women the vote and better working conditions is less celebrated than the more provocative, headline-making acts of her mother Emmeline and sister Christabel, her fellow "Revolting Women", but Vashti Maclachlan brings her to the fore in Marsden company Mikron's new play, on tour on land and narrow boat through the summer.

A combination of Mikron's reputation for entertaining, educative and efficacious theatre and the early-evening sun brought a packed, picnicking audience to Scarcroft Allotments on Tuesday to learn of Sylvia's early 20th century story of selfless service, sacrifice and eloquent speech-making, told through fast-paced vignettes and Kieran Buckeridge's delightful, witty songs.

Left-wing, radical Sylvia (Daisy Ann Fletcher) left Manchester to take up the cause of the working women of London's East End, here represented by the everywoman figure of Lettie (Rosamund Hine), duly becoming the "avenging angel" who favoured militant speeches over torching pillar boxes as her form of political activism, yet endied up gaoled and on hunger strike on multiple occasions.

Mikron's ever-present James McLean plays myriad roles from haughty Cristabel and stern Prime Minister Asquith to a jolly postman and seen-it-all MP, while Christopher Arkeston impresses with assorted accents and characters too.

Directed with vitality, humour and passion by Jonny Kelly, Maclachlan's stirring play is both a smart political satire and a celebration of female friendship, unstinting determination, bravery and empowerment. As ever, Mikron's cast of actor-musicians are a joy, so multi-skilled, so much a team but individually characterful too.

Should you have missed Revolting Women, Mikron will return to York to present Get Well Soon, York playwright Ged Cooper’s new play celebrating 70 years of the NHS, at Clements Hall on Sunday, September 23 at 4pm. Tickets are on sale at Pextons, Bishopthorpe Road.