In 1851, the Sheffield Women’s Political Association was the first British organisation to call for the vote for women. Almost 170 years later, Chloë Brown’s A Soft Rebellion in Paradise (2019) reimagines contemporary political activism and reawakens this forgotten aspect of the city’s history.
In the late 18th century and into the 19th century Paradise Square was Sheffield's main public meeting place, where people gathered to protest and demand change. Today, it's the centre of the city's law quarter. In 2019, artist Chloë Brown used it as the location for her short film, A Soft Rebellion in Paradise.
Chloë's film responds to Sheffield’s proud history political activism, and focuses on the narratives of women that are too often lost in the retelling of histories around the world.
Over 200 women gathered in the square to create the film, performing a series of Soft Rebellions, i.e. actions that in some way defy norms. At the heart of the film is a poem by Sheffield-based poet Geraldine Monk – which she performs on the balcony where John Wesley once addressed the masses and the Chartists were dispersed by troops, leading to rioting. Alongside this is sound design and a score by musician DIE HEXEN. The film was made by an all-female crew, production team and cast.
Find out more about Chloë's inspirations in her interview from our Meet the Locals archive.
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