SUFFRAGETTES will be marching through the streets of Kidderminster again next month when they relive their day of protest in the town more than a century ago.

Members of the Rose Theatre will re-enact the visit of women’s rights campaigners Emmeline Pankhurst and her supporters with a banner-waving procession.

It will culminate with key figures addressing the public from the town hall steps before Mrs Pankhurst moves inside to speak to an audience in the Music Room.

The event on Saturday, September 15 has been organised by the voluntary Heritage Opportunities Group to mark Heritage Day 2018.

Chairman Colin Hill said: “As this year is the centenary of women gaining the vote, we felt it was the perfect theme for our annual heritage event.

“It will be fantastic street theatre and we hope there will be a big crowd to see a dramatic spectacle depicting January 24, 1912 when Emmeline Pankhurst visited the town.”

Rose Theatre chairman Stephen Downing said: “Our members have had great fun researching the story of Mrs Pankhurst’s Kidderminster visit and it makes fascinating street theatre

“Workshop sessions with local Soroptimists through the summer have included script-writing, banner-making, singing practice for the suffragette anthem and raiding our costume department for suitable attire!

“We are all ready and can’t wait for the day now.”

The march and speeches will be performed twice during the day and will be followed by talks in period costume by local historian Gay Hill who will speak about the women’s suffrage movement in Kidderminster.

The free action-packed day centred on the town hall will include events and activities for all ages.

Younger visitors will be able make their own authentic ‘Votes for Women’ rosettes and sashes to wear and films to be shown in the town hall include ‘Forgotten Birmingham Suffragettes’ and Kidderminster CBC’s story of local women’s campaigners Sarah Elizabeth Woodward and Helen Talbot.

Kidderminster film-maker Bill Every will also be showing his work ‘Kidderminster Past and Present, featuring the town before major changes of the 1960s and 70s.

Self-guided tours of the town hall, mayor’s parlour, Victorian court room and the 1876 Council Chamber will be available.

Visitors will also have a chance to visit stands from local museums and historical groups including the Museum of Carpet, Civic Society, Archaeological and Historical Society, and Wyre Forest Historical Research Group.

Meanwhile, tickets for two tours of the district on a classic bus as part of the annual heritage celebration on Saturday September 22 have sold out.