Welcome to The Bessie Carruthers Study Club. It’s August 1919, and local Women’s Institute activist, Miss Bessie Carruthers of Kent Street in Charlottetown, has a very special guest for her weekly Study Club gathering: British musician, composer and renowned suffragette, Miss Ethel Smyth. While this is a fictional event, the characters are based on actual women. Bessie Carruthers played an important role in persuading political leaders of the era to grant women the right to vote on PEI. Ethel Smyth, now known as Dame Smyth, has been rediscovered as an important and significant composer of the last century, as well as a formidable voice in the work of British suffragettes. Produced by local company Pirate Jenny Productions, The Bessie Carruthers Study Club stars Suzanne Campbell as the titular suffragette with Jennifer King as English composer Ethel Smyth. Mezzo-soprano Suzanne Campbell teaches singing to students of all ages, appears as a frequent soloist around the Island, and sings as a member of the award-winning women’s vocal ensemble, Sirens, who recently won Choral Recording of the Year at the 2023 ECMAs. Halifax-based Jennifer King is a pianist, educator, host of Cecilia Concerts Sensory Accessible Concert series at Halifax’s Central Library and a recording artist. Her latest recording, O Mistress Moon: Canadian Edition, was the recipient of the 2023 ECMA Classical Recording of the Yyear. Described as a “playfully thoughtful and amusing look back at women’s earlier struggles, made more appealing by the Campbell/King duo’s fine singing and King’s formidable piano skills.” (Sean McQuaid, The Buzz) The Bessie Carruthers Study Club was one of nine shows selected to be part of the 2019 Island Fringe Festival where it performed to a sold-out, standing-room-only audiences throughout the festival. Audience members of all ages enjoyed the portrayal of Bessie Carruthers and Ethel Smyth as well as the audience-participation aspect of the show. —- The Souris Show Hall Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to staging live performance events, and maintaining the 132 year old theatre in Souris, PEI. There will be a 50/50 draw at intermission in support of the hall's activities and to continue the renovation and restoration of this historic property. Ticket sales are also an important part of keeping the Souris Show Hall open and operating, as well as paying the talented artists who grace our stage. That said, we want our whole community to be able to enjoy the events at the Souris Show Hall, so if ticket price is an issue for you for any reason, please use the promo code CHEAPSEAT to save 50% on a ticket to any of our events. 10 concession tickets will be available online in advance, and 10 will be held at the door while supplies last. For this performance we are also offering a 50% discount on tickets for those under 30. Use the promo code SOURISYOUTH at check out to save on your ticket!
General Admission 20$, Youth Admission 10$