The early 20th century saw a craze for historic pageants – huge theatrical events with casts of thousands. Gwen Lally called herself England’s first female pageant master, and in 1932 she arrived at Battle Abbey in Sussex with great ambitions for her latest show. It was unusual for a woman to wield such power, but even more unusual was her decision to wear masculine clothes. This was a woman who pushed the boundaries.

With English Heritage curator Kathryn Bedford, Josie Long explores the story of the Battle Abbey Pageant and speaks to Lally biographer Deborah Sugg Ryan about new research that is shedding light on the enigmatic pageant master's personal life. She also meets E-J Scott, Curator of the Museum of Transology, and Francesca Reid (aka drag king Brent Would) to discuss how gender roles have been challenged through performance.

Visit our episode page to find out more about Gwen Lally, the Battle Abbey pageant and women's masculine dress in the interwar years.

Speaking with Shadows is brought to you by English Heritage. 

 

Presenter: Josie Long

Producer: Katharine Kerr for Fresh Air

Contributors: Kathryn Bedford, English Heritage Collections Curator (South East); Deborah Sugg Ryan, Professor of Design History and Theory at University of Portsmouth; E-J Scott, Historian, Curator and Queer Cultural Producer; Francesca Reid, performer and creator of the drag king Brent Would.

english-heritage.org.uk/speakingwithshadows

The early 20th century saw a craze for historic pageants &ndash; huge theatrical events with casts of thousands. Gwen Lally called herself England&rsquo;s first female pageant master, and in 1932 she arrived at <a href="https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/1066-battle-of-hastings-abbey-and-battlefield/">Battle Abbey</a> in Sussex with great ambitions for her latest show. It was unusual for a woman to wield such power, but even more unusual was her decision to wear masculine clothes. This was a woman who pushed the boundaries.
With English Heritage curator Kathryn Bedford, Josie Long explores the story of the Battle Abbey Pageant and speaks to Lally biographer Deborah Sugg Ryan about new research that is shedding light on the enigmatic pageant master's personal life. She also meets E-J Scott, Curator of the Museum of Transology, and Francesca Reid (aka drag king Brent Would) to discuss how gender roles have been challenged through performance.
Visit our <a href="https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/inspire-me/speaking-with-shadows/episode-1">episode page</a> to find out more about Gwen Lally, the Battle Abbey pageant and women's masculine dress in the interwar years.
Speaking with Shadows is brought to you by English Heritage.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Presenter: Josie Long
Producer: Katharine Kerr for Fresh Air
Contributors: Kathryn Bedford, English Heritage Collections Curator (South East); Deborah Sugg Ryan, Professor of Design History and Theory at University of Portsmouth; E-J Scott, Historian, Curator and Queer Cultural Producer; Francesca Reid, performer and creator of the drag king Brent Would.
<a href="https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/speakingwithshadows">english-heritage.org.uk/speakingwithshadows</a>

When you’re wandering about a historic place, what voices do you hear echoing off the walls? Are they the ones you learnt about at school – or do you wonder about the shadowy, quiet voices that may have gone unheard?

Speaking with Shadows is the podcast that listens to the people that history forgot. From castles on the south coast to Hadrian’s Wall in the far North, join presenter Josie Long as she travels across the country to seek out six stories from the hidden corners of England’s history. 

When you&rsquo;re wandering about a historic place, what voices do you hear echoing off the walls? Are they the ones you learnt about at school &ndash; or do you wonder about the shadowy, quiet voices that may have gone unheard?
Speaking with Shadows is the podcast that listens to the people that history forgot. From castles on the south coast to Hadrian&rsquo;s Wall in the far North, join presenter Josie Long as she travels across the country to seek out six stories from the hidden corners of England&rsquo;s history.&nbsp;

Speaking with Shadows

When you're wandering about a historic place, what voices do you hear echoing off the walls? Are they the ones you learnt about at school - or do you wonder about the shadowy, quiet voices that may have gone unheard? Speaking with Shadows from English Heritage is the podcast that listens to the people that history forgot. From castles on the south coast to Hadrian's Wall in the far north, join presenter Josie Long as she travels across the country to seek out six stories from the hidden corners of England's history.

Read more about the series.

When you're wandering about a historic place, what voices do you hear echoing off the walls? Are they the ones you learnt about at school - or do you wonder about the shadowy, quiet voices that may have gone unheard? Speaking with Shadows from English Heritage is the podcast that listens to the people that history forgot. From castles on the south coast to Hadrian's Wall in the far north, join presenter Josie Long as she travels across the country to seek out six stories from the hidden corners of England's history.
<a href="https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/inspire-me/speaking-with-shadows/">Read more about the series</a>.

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