1928 marked a landmark turning point for women’s rights, but the bloody and tireless battle of the suffragettes to achieve this milestone tends to be overlooked. Phoebe Perry’s original musical VOTE gives a voice to the suffragette soldiers and their bravery in the face of violent oppression that cannot be overstated, paying homage to the women who battled without bowing down to pave the way for women’s rights as we take them for granted today.
The cast is incredibly powerful in its entirety. The entire group of suffragettes embody this unwavering sisterhood and connection that lifts them up when fighting for a common goal. Lexi Lott is hauntingly powerful in her portrayal of Elizabeth; in her solo ballad ‘Wings’ we see the effects of her systematic marital abuse, and her release and source of hope through breaking free of her domestic cage and finding solidarity in the suffragettes. Daisy Bayer’s Mary leads the movement with fierce rage and determination whilst also conveying the weight of psychological torment the suffragettes had to endure. The abuse suffered by the suffragettes suffered at the hands of police officers is captured with uncomfortable accuracy by the male ensemble, capturing the savage abuse of women who tried to speak up.
Perry’s writing is natural and steeped in symbolism. The structure of interweaving historical depictions with narrations from fictional suffragette Verity Sterling as a way of illustrating through razor-sharp and harrowing narrations the magnitude of suffering as a response to women clinging to the possibility of emancipation. Katie Kenny delivers these lines with haunting sincerity, talking directly to the audience as we reflect on the violent fight for gender equality, and the progress that is still to come. With sashes gleaming in white, purple and green and period costumes and parasols, the attention to detail immerses the audience in this snapshot of feminist history. The three central women’s stories could have been explored in more depth, which comes down to restrictions of a tight hour-long run time. While the performances of the male ensemble mostly blend into one in a show of aggressive masculinity, this represents the mass opposition the suffragettes were faced with.
The piano-based soundtrack is versatile and professional, spanning haunting ballads to spirted songs of hope and solidarity. The duet between Mary and dying Elizabeth is a harrowing portrayal of grief and the deep-rooted violence used as a tool to quell the movement. The harsher, menacing number ‘Don’t Look Them In The Eyes’ contrasts the fierce and violent police brutality wielded against women with their desperation to be heard.
Paying homage to the milestones achieved by the fierce persistence of women who demanded to be listened to, VOTE is a sincere, hopeful celebration of efforts of the women who came before and the unsung heroes.
Reviewer: Juliette Pepin
Reviewed: 21st August 2025
North West End UK Rating: