a new musical inspired by the life of
Canada's militant suffragette
A farm girl from New Brunswick falls in love with a woman while carrying out dangerous sabotage missions for Britain’s militant suffragette movement, forcing her to choose between her passion for the cause and the woman she loves.
In 1912, Gert Harding is invited to London as companion to her oldest sister, Nellie. Within days, she is captivated by the suffragettes and their cause, sparking terrible arguments with her dear sister and traditional brother-in-law, Ernest. Gert, however, feels compelled to join the militant movement, just as violence to property — and public backlash — are about to flame to new heights. With this choice, Gert is cast out by Ernest, leaving her destitute.
Gert soon finds a new home among the militants. Her courage under attack during a protest march earns the attention of the leadership. Gert's first big 'job' is to trash rare orchids at Kew Gardens; within months, the leaders name her as head of a secret bodyguard of women, who train in jujitsu to protect their leader, Mrs Pankhurst, from constant re-arrest.
As Gert rises in suffragette status, she falls for the witty Sunita Sharma, a public-speaker for the cause. Listing their differences in a push-and-pull duet only ignites their attraction; weeks later, they exchange a fiery kiss. Inexperienced but enthusiastic, 'Hardie', as she is known, gets a sultry lyrical lesson in how women make love. Little do they know that the cause that drew them together will become the wedge that forces them apart.
A story of heroism, heart and humour inspired by a fearless farm girl from New Brunswick.
"Feminists are no longer arrested, pelted with rotten fruit or incited to blow up public monuments. For that, thank women like Gert Harding."
Heather Robertson, The Globe and Mail
Our Team
Gretchen Kelbaugh
book and lyrics
Theresa Patterson
composer
Deb Adshade
composer
Development
2019 - with a grant from artsNB and support from PARC, we held a week-long workshop on the libretto, led by Martha Irving
2020- with a Canada Council grant, we engaged Michael Doherty to help composers develop the music
2022 - with a grant from artsNB, we received mentorship from Michael Rubinoff
2023-24, with 2 grants (PGC, artslinkNB) Gretchen rewrote the libretto with mentorship by Leslie Arden
Gretchen, Theresa and Deb go over lyrics.
Song Samples
When Gert discovers that brother-in-law Ernest has escalated his threats to her sister Nellie, she tells her to leave him. Nellie responds in this ballad.
Gert finds herself attracted to the charming suffragette, Sunita Sharma. She quickly discovers that Sunita is a vegetarian and was raised as a Jain, a religion Gert has never even heard of. Could there be any future for the two?
In this Act 2 ensemble opener, the stage is split.
Militants in a cafe toast the successful attack on Kew Gardens by Gert and comrade, Lilian, who reads about it aloud in The Times. Sunita, who has recently exchanged a first kiss with Gert, is against this level of violence.
In the other setting, Ernest, dead set against the militants, reads the same article to wife Nellie.
Another split-stage scene and duet.
Sunita, who has broken it off with Gert, imagines what fun her lover might be up to. Gert, meanwhile, has been arrested, gone on a hunger strike and knows she's about to be force-fed. As she awaits this torture, she thinks of Sunita.
Gert's passion rallies the troops.