This story is based on true characters and events about the Victorian social reformer, Josephine Butler, in her crusade to end prostitution. Whitechapel. The Seven Dials. Fleet Street. The murders by Jack…the Ripper. The slums of late Victorian London set the scene for this drama about social reform opposed by the hypocrites of British Peerage and government, for they were the major partakers of the services offered. The Contagious Diseases Acts of 1869 become a focus of the campaign waged by Josephine Butler, which was successful in 1886 with the repeal of those acts. But her larger campaign, against the practice of prostitution and for the education, rehabilitation and recovery of the young women trapped in it, was one that lasted her entire life.
PART OF THE PREMIERE PLAY FILE
The sensitive and sometimes provacative subject matter and slang is not for children. Ages 16-17 and up recommended.
PLAY DETAILS
- (8 f, 5 m, doubles to 7f 5m)
- Josephine Butler
- The Rev. Dr. George Butler
- Liz
- Rose
- May
- Walter
- Carver
- Bentinck
- Smith-Bentley
- Mary Jeffries
- Mrs. Smith-Bentley
- Little Liz
- Margie
- (Little Liz and Margie may be played by the same actress)
- Several settings can be fluid
- Costumes of the late 19th Century
- About 2 hours 20 minutes
- ORDER #3293
- PREMIERE PLAY FILE
AVAILABLE
PERUSAL MATERIALS:
- A copy of the PERUSAL SCRIPT (in PDF format) which contains the first act of the script of the play is available: Winding Sheet PERUSAL
PRODUCTION/REHEARSAL MATERIALS:
(Any PDF purchased will be emailed to your email address — if you need to provide that to us (not the one on your PayPal account?), email us. CDs will be mailed to a snail mail address. Do not purchase rehearsal materials or pay for royalties until you have performance clearance.)
- Script in PDF format — Order #3293a : $40.00 (from which you will be authorized to copy for your production)
(PART OF THE PREMIERE PLAY FILE — please email us for a quote.) - First Performance Amateur/Educational Royalty — Order #3293d : $70
(PART OF THE PREMIERE PLAY FILE — please email us for a quote.) - Second Performance Amateur/Educational Royalty — Order #3293e : $60
(PART OF THE PREMIERE PLAY FILE — please email us for a quote.) - Professional Royalties will be quoted upon application
- EMAIL us for rights and information. Be sure to give us anticipated performance dates and the address of your group and, if different, your theatre. Please also include a contact name and phone number.
PRODUCTIONS
- Produced at SLAC (Salt Lake Acting Company) in a staged reading, December 1998
BILLING CREDITS
The following is how the credits should read in all programs, posters, fliers, handbills and other promotional advertising for the show:
Winding Sheet
A New Play
by
Eric Samuelsen
NOTE: The names of the Playwright(s), Composer, Lyricist, and Bookwriter shall be equal in size, type, coloring, boldness, and prominence. No billing shall appear in type larger or more prominent than the billing to the Authors except for the title of the play. (In a press release all type, will of course, be the same size.)
ALSO:
THIS NOTICE MUST APPEAR IN ALL PROGRAMS, ON ALL POSTERS AND PUBLICITY MATERIALS AND INTERNET ADVERTISING/WEBPAGES FOR THE PLAY:
“Winding Sheet is presented through special arrangement with Leicester Bay Theatricals. All authorized materials are also supplied by LBT, www.leicesterbaytheatricals.com”