First Opera to Celebrate first woman in the Army appeals for chorus of support
GROUNDBREAKING plans to celebrate and commemorate the life of the first British woman to serve as a combatant in the Army through music have been unveiled.
A prestigious team of stars from the international opera world have joined forces with the Army to create a unique musical tribute to the first woman in The Army.
They aim to celebrate the untold story of the only British woman to serve in combat in the First World War, Flora Sandes and her best friend Emily Simmonds; a nurse and aid worker who saved thousands of lives on the Allied Front.
Librettist & Opera Singer Lila Palmer has written the piece along with composer Rose M Hall. Miranda Cromwell, whose recent hits include the sold out Death of a Salesman at the Young Vic, directs.
"Dead Equal was created as a response to the press critique of women being allowed into frontline combat roles in the British Army in 2016," explained Lila at the launch of their fundraising campaign in London.
"We decided to respond by uncovering the reality that women have been serving unofficially in frontline positions for over a century, that the ground is already broken. The battle is already won in reality, if not in imagination. Now the imagination is our job.
"Amidst the music and the speeches, at our launch, the message came through loud and clear: we are creating the change we want to see in the world and the world of opera by lifting up the stories of inspiring, diverse women onstage, magnifying the impact of their heroism and choices."
The opera is called ‘Dead Equal' and the team behind it is campaigning to launch it at the Edinburgh Festival this year.
Backed by the The British Army, ENO, the Canada Arts Council, Gemma Classical Music Trust and Help Musician's Fusion Fund, the project needs to raise enough money for its first run in Edinburgh and a tour.
The launch at Army Officer Training Corps Headquarters in London was attended by young female cadets, the Women's Royal Auxiliary Corps and a selection of influential and high-profile backers.
Said Lila: "Our Crowdfunder is now live after some technical snaffoos. And we feel, in the best possible way, a renewed sense of energy and purpose, because we have supersheroes on our side.
"They've done more difficult things than we can dream of. Like superheroes they've remained hidden. But now the world, especially other women, need to see them, and realise they have the power to dare great things to. Dead Equal is coming. And so are they."
To donate to the Crowdfunder and for more information please click here: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/make-dead-equal-sing-at-edfringe19
To see the video please click here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzzMKU_hOTk
