They are the stuff of legend and song - the dashing women who defied gender stereotypes to plunder stagecoaches and acquire ill-gotten gains.

But was it all as romantic as movies such as "The Wicked Lady" would have us believe...?

Historian Sara Hiorns takes us on a journey back in time to talk about Moll Cutpurse, Katherine Ferrers and others.

Sara Hiorns:
Sara was a diplomat for many years before doing a doctorate in history and subsequently lecturing at QMUL. She has interests in the history of childhood, women's history, and queer histories. She is the author of Diplomatic Families and Children’s Mobile Lives: Experiences of British Diplomatic Service Children from 1945 to 1990, as well as a published author of fiction. She describes herself as an "historian; writer; fox aficionado; would-be swashbuckler; proud and happy wife: cold water swimmer".

Do check out Sara on Insta @highwaywoman_hiorns

Sovay is performed by QueerFolk (Sophie Crawford and George Sansome)

www. queerfolk.co.uk

youtube: @queerfolk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/QueerFolkUK

Insta: @queerfolkuk

Guest: Sara Hiorns

Host: Lottie Walker

Editor: Lis Barlow

Image: Pond5

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What decision did you make today that had implications on the rest of your life?

For Tottenham Hotspur and Scotland star player John White a simple choice to play golf made a devastating difference to the lives of his family when a freak accident saw him killed by lightning.

John White was by all accounts a footballing genius. His nickname, "the ghost of white hart lane" gained due to both his speed on the pitch and his slight appearance lends itself to the book and play of the same name about him.

Today we talk to John's son, Rob, who co-authored his father's biography, Martin Murphy, writer and director of the play and Callum Lewis-Newman who has been playing john, Rob and a host of other characters in the one man play that debuted at White Hart Lane, took the Edinburgh Fringe by storm and is about to return.

Further reading & Info:

The Ghost of White Hart Lane: In Search of My Father the Football Legend, by Julie Welch and Rob White

https://stanchionbooks.com/products/the-ghost-in-search-of-my-father-the-football-legend

Scotland in the 60's by Ronnie McDevitt

Flower of Scotland? by Archie Macpherson

Guests: Rob White, Martin Murphy, Callum Lewis Newman

Host: Lottie Walker

Readings by: Steve Taylor & Luke Taylor

Production & Editing: Jacob Taylor

Get social:

https://www.bruisedskyproductions.com/

https://www.facebook.com/BruisedSkyProductions

https://www.instagram.com/bruised_sky/

https://www.instagram.com/robawhite/

https://www.instagram.com/callumlewisnewman/

https://www.instagram.com/themartinmurphy/

Support the show

Thank you for listening. If you've enjoyed today's podcast do subscribe via your streaming platform so that you never miss an episode and you can catch up on past episodes.

If you'd like to help us keep the studio lights on please click the "support the podcast" link above.

Details of all our upcoming shows and how to access our albums etc are here:
https://linktr.ee/BlueFireTheatreCo

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Find us at:

https://www.instagram.com/bluefire_tc
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“In any civilised community the arts... must occupy a central place. Their enjoyment should not be regarded as something remote from everyday life” ⁠
⁠
What a quote - what a woman!⁠
⁠
Jennie Lee was an MP before she was old enough to vote. She was the first Minister for the Arts and the main drive behind the formation of the Open University. ⁠ She was also married to Nye Bevan, father of the NHS.

We think we'd have liked Jennie. How could you not like someone who said:⁠
⁠
“Better to enjoy and suffer than sit around with folded arms. You know the only true prayer? Please God, lead me into temptation.”⁠
⁠

Marianne McNamara is Artistic Director of Mikron Theatre Company, currently touring with "Operation Beach Hut" and "Hush, Hush" (the latter about the women of Bletchley Park) and are on the road river until October 2025.

Dr Daniel Weinbren is a lecturer in history at the Open University and is the author of the history of the Open University

Further reading:

Jennie Lee: a Life - by Patricia Hollis

The Open University: A History - by Daniel Weinbren

My Life with Nye - by Jennie Lee

NYE: The Political Life of Aneurin Bevan - by Nick Thomas-Symonds

Before the Arts Council: campaigns for state funding of the arts in Britain 1934-1944 - by Howard Webber

Social media and website links:

https://profiles.open.ac.uk/daniel-weinbren

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-weinbren-2b257521a

https://mikron.org.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/mikrontheatre/

https://www.facebook.com/mikrontheatre

https://www.youtube.com/MikronTheatre

Guest: Marianne McNamara & Dan Weinbren

Host: Lottie Walker

Editing & Production: Jacob Taylor

Support the show

Thank you for listening. If you've enjoyed today's podcast do subscribe via your streaming platform so that you never miss an episode and you can catch up on past episodes.

If you'd like to help us keep the studio lights on please click the "support the podcast" link above.

Details of all our upcoming shows and how to access our albums etc are here:
https://linktr.ee/BlueFireTheatreCo

And finally...don't forget to follow us on social media. We'd love to hear from you!
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We've all enjoyed those chatty radio and TV shows and podcasts where the presenters are mates in the real world or have a good rapport and every so often allow a little of their real lives to slip into the show's content. But has anyone heard a show where the advice column s dealing out such gems as we find here....?

Enjoy!

"Women's Own (how to Kill Your Husband and Get Away With it)" was written by J.J. Leppink. It featured Lottie Walker and J.J. Leppink.

Studio recording and production: Harry Jacobs

Support the show

Thank you for listening. If you've enjoyed today's podcast do subscribe via your streaming platform so that you never miss an episode and you can catch up on past episodes.

If you'd like to help us keep the studio lights on please click the "support the podcast" link above.

Details of all our upcoming shows and how to access our albums etc are here:
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Call Backs takes us back to that weird post lockdown era when we were still sort of locked down. All sorts of relationships were affected in all sorts of ways…

This is a fun look back on those very strange times!

Written by J.J. Leppink

Performed by Greg Arundell & J.J leppink

Studio recording & editing: Harry Jacobs

Support the show

Thank you for listening. If you've enjoyed today's podcast do subscribe via your streaming platform so that you never miss an episode and you can catch up on past episodes.

If you'd like to help us keep the studio lights on please click the "support the podcast" link above.

Details of all our upcoming shows and how to access our albums etc are here:
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Released to coincide with the Hackney History Festival The Hackneyed Detective is an audio drama about Daniel Ludlow, a modern day private eye based in East London.⁠
⁠
Daniel is down on his luck and takes solace from the imaginary world of the 1940's New York gumshoe Danny Ludlow.⁠

The Hackneyed Detective is an original play from the pen of: J.J. Leppink

Cast:
Daniel/Danny Ludlow: Steve Taylor
Francesca "Frankie" De Mateo: J.J. Leppink
Julie Ludlow: Lottie Walker
Secretary: Greg Arundell

Studio recording and production: Harry Jacobs

Support the show

Thank you for listening. If you've enjoyed today's podcast do subscribe via your streaming platform so that you never miss an episode and you can catch up on past episodes.

If you'd like to help us keep the studio lights on please click the "support the podcast" link above.

Details of all our upcoming shows and how to access our albums etc are here:
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Nellie Bly was an American journalist who is famous for her record breaking 72 day round the world trip.⁠
⁠
Before that though she went undercover into an "insane asylum" to report on the appalling conditions to which the patients were subjected.⁠
⁠
This short play by JJ Leppink guesses what might have happened in the time leading up to Nellie's incarceration.⁠

This is the first in a season of 4 short audio dramas written by J.J. Leppink. It features:

J.J. Leppink and Greg Arundell

Studio recording and editing: Harry Jacobs

⁠
⁠

Support the show

Thank you for listening. If you've enjoyed today's podcast do subscribe via your streaming platform so that you never miss an episode and you can catch up on past episodes.

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Details of all our upcoming shows and how to access our albums etc are here:
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A while ago we spoke with Dr Mary Shannon about Billy Waters and Mary's upcoming biography of him - "Billy Waters is Dancing".

Well the book is now out (and a jolly fine read it is, too) and Mary has joined forces with historian Dr. Ben Marsh, artist Selena Scott and musician Angeline Morrison on the Age of Revolution's "Songs from the Shadows" project.

The project is a free educational resource intended for students aged 11-16. It consists of a graphic novel and a digital landscape all based on the story of Billy Waters.

To access educational resources:
https://ageofrevolution.org/
Insta: @ageofrev

About Selena Scott:
https://www.selenascott.com/
Insta: @selenarosescott

About Mary Shannon:
https://marylshannon.com/
Insta: @drmarylshanon

Billy Waters is Dancing is available from your independent bookshop:
https://yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300267686/billy-waters-is-dancing/

About Angeline Morrison:
https://www.angelinemorrisonmusic.com/
Insta: @angelcakepie2

Date for your diary - "Jump Billy", A celebration of English folk's diverse history, through the life of celebrity Black Regency busker Billy Waters at Cecil Sharp House in London
https://www.efdss.org/whats-on/26-gigs/14401-jump-billy

Guests: Dr Mary Shannon, Dr, Ben Marsh, Selena Scott

Host: Lottie Walker

Studio Editor: Lis Barlow

Support the show

Thank you for listening. If you've enjoyed today's podcast do subscribe via your streaming platform so that you never miss an episode and you can catch up on past episodes.

If you'd like to help us keep the studio lights on please click the "support the podcast" link above.

Details of all our upcoming shows and how to access our albums etc are here:
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And finally...don't forget to follow us on social media. We'd love to hear from you!
Find us at:

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