Josephine Butler celebrated for International Women's Day

It will stream to audiences from International Women’s Day on Wednesday, March 8.

Josey, The Indignant Daughter, will celebrate the life of Josephine Butler, produced by November Club and The Space and developed in consultation with Northumberland women.

Josephine Butler (1828 - 1906) was an English feminist and social reformer with a concern for women’s rights in British law.

Katie Doherty recording the audio (Image: November Club)

In 1886 she repealed the Contagious Diseases Act, legislation which impacted the dignity of women. Female sex workers were subjected to intrusive examinations, which were not required of their male clients.

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Now her story will be at the centre of a new audio musical which will freely be available on podcast streaming sites.

Josey, The Indignant Daughter, is written by award-winning singer-songwriter Katie Doherty.

Katie has created a dramatic piece exploring how prominent women like Josephine Butler have been written out of history and how the campaigns they led are still relevant.

The audio production features a community choir of women from Northumberland plus young women from local schools.

Singer Katie Doherty (Image: November Club)

Katie Doherty said: “We couldn’t not tell the story of Josephine Butler. When I began talking to other women about her, it became apparent that her incredible story has been forgotten in its detail and impact.

"Discussing the weight of her achievements, given the time that she was living when it was highly unusual to see a woman speaking in public as she did. Josephine Butler is utterly inspiring as a woman.

"The causes she fought for are still being fought for today. The adversity female activists face in today's world is different, but it is in many ways harder to speak out, to carry on, to raise your voice as a woman in a culture where everything is instantly amplified through the media.

"I'd like listeners to come away with questions, I'd like them to feel something, to be moved, to look at their own lives, to think about the future and to think about how we as a culture support Female Activism and the importance of it. I'd like them to take away the hope too. In effect Josey's story is about us too. This is a brave piece of audio; unlike anything you have heard before.”