Discover the stories, songs and memories of the women of Greenham Common peace camp during a powerful summer tour
Compelling summer tour shines a light on the legacy of women’s liberation brought about by the enduring peace protests
Discover the stories of the women and children who lived in the camp – and share your own memories of the iconic protest and its impact on you
Stories, songs and memories from Greenham Common will be taken on the road this summer as feminist theatre company Scary Little Girls embark on a compelling summer tour, reflecting on the legacy of the iconic protest camp over 40 years on.
A series of fascinating events will bring people together to find out more about the Greenham Common Peace Camps and discover the stories of the women and children who lived in the camp.
Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp was an enduring and iconic protest spanning 19 years from 1981 – 2000. Whilst the occupation of the common began with the aim of forcing out the US nuclear warheads from Berkshire, the protest became a focal point of feminist history and has left a legacy of women’s liberation around the world.
The Common Ground tour - from Cornish feminist theatre company Scary Little Girls - brings the stories of the impact of Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp to local communities across the UK - taking in venues in Oxfordshire, Birmingham, Nottingham with dates to be announced for Sheffield, Manchester and Leeds.
Members of the public are invited to come along with friends and family, share their memories of the peace camps and what the movement meant to them - and celebrate the stories of everyday women mobilised to protest together for the common good.
Rebecca Mordan, artistic director of Scary Little Girls – and a Greenham Common child whose mother Marie Knowles was a regular visitor to the camp, said: “ My mum first took me to Greenham when I was young, and I was very aware of what a massive difference that made in our lives – how it changed and radicalised my mum as a feminist and how it changed how I was raised. My mum died about nine years ago and I started to realise that there’s no one younger than me who knows or has heard what it was like – especially considering that it was such recent history. “
She added: “This is within living memory for a lot of women, but no one younger than 40 has been told about it at all. I thought that was really shocking and I don’t think it’s just a coincidence – it seems to fit a pattern of women’s issues being blotted out. I thought it was a really shocking admission. The Greenham Women Everywhere – and our Common Ground tour – is a project in direct response to that.”
Rebecca will also introduce her book ‘Out of the Darkness: Greenham Voices 1981 – 2000’ sharing the impact her early experiences of the camp have had on her life.
Full information about the tour can be found on the Scary Little Girls website. Dates and venues this summer are:
Monday 24 July RISC, Reading -
Tuesday 25 July RISC, Reading
Wed 26 July The Ultimate Picture Palace, Oxford
Friday 28 July Woodstock Bookshop at Woodstock Town Hall
Friday 28 July Millers Bar, The Mill Arts Centre, Banbury, Oxfordshire
Sunday 30 July Sumac Centre, Nottingham
Monday 31 July Sandwell Central Library, West Bromwich, Birmingham
Monday 31 July: Thimblemill Library, West Bromwich, Birmingham
The Greenham Women Everywhere Peace Camp exhibition will also be at the Green Man Festival in Wales this summer, from Friday 18 August.
This event was made possible with thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Find out more about the tour here: