A Regular Terror
a true story of a remarkable woman
Wednesday 24th June 2026
Laura Annie Willson.
Mill girl, activist, trade unionist, feminist, engineer, housebulder. What a woman, what a legacy.
Speaking at an outdoor meeting in support of a weavers’ strike, Laura Annie was arrested. In court she demanded to be tried by a jury of women. Instead she was sent to Armley jail for 14 days. Afterwards she said: “I went into prison a rebel and I came out a regular terror”.
She went on to become a leading figure in the Suffragette movement, a friend of Emmeline Pankhurst. She was imprisoned in Holloway with Emily Davison. She became an engineer and was awarded the MBE for her services to the war effort, before going on to build over 800 workers’ houses.
Born into poverty in a man’s world, she didn’t just break the glass ceiling, she smashed it to smithereens. From rags to riches, mill worker to millionaire, prison to palace, she never forgot her roots or her social conscience.
Come and be inspired by the incredible story of this feisty northern lass whose grit and determination knew no bounds.
Running time tbc
Where it all began, less than a year ago. A blue plaque appeared on Elmwood street, Savile Park, Halifax, just below the Big 6 pub.
Laura Annie Willson MBE. Millworker, Trade unionist, Suffragette (twice imprisoned), Company director, Engineer, House builder.
🌀We researched her.
She had said: “I went to prison a rebel – but I came out a regular terror…”
🌀We were inspired.
🌀We cast it.
🌀Alan got writing a play.
🌀On Saturday 20th June we start touring it.
Are you coming to watch?
Molly Hannan plays our “regular terror”, Young Laura Annie Willson. A Halifax lass just like the real life character she plays, they also share talent, charm, ambition and feistiness. Molly was brought up in local community theatre and has performed with Actors’ Workshop and Halifax Thespians. This is her first part with Talking Stock and we are all in agreement that she’s a wonderful addition to the Company.
“It’s a brilliant play,” she says. “I feel very lucky to be part of something so special.”
Helen Forsyth plays older Laura Annie Willson and we’re delighted to welcome her back to the Company after 12 years. Helen played Liz in our first tour of ‘Give a a Little Love’ in 2014. She has also worked with Alan playing a spectacular Mari Hoff in ‘Little Voice’ at Hebden Bridge. Helen has been on the local Calderdale theatre scene for over 50 years as an actor and dancer, performing with Halifax Thespians, HLOS, HAOS, Catholic Amateurs, Hebden Bridge Light Opera, and HBLT. Her last role was in the ‘Singin’ in the Rain’. Helen is enjoying the laughter, camaraderie and team spirit in rehearsals. “It’s a lot of fun,” she says. “This is a brilliant piece of writing and what an achievement getting Laura Annie Wilson’s life story into a play. It’s a real privilege to play such an amazing local heroine.”
Stuart Davison, our ‘man for all seasons’, is a much loved stalwart of the Company and as usual he’s multi-tasking. From two different policemen, to heckler to bank clerk, to doctor, it’s always a treat to tap into his talent and humour. Rehearsals would be dull without his quick wit and all-round daftness. He was last seen on tour with Talking Stock as (amongst other things) a Polish priest in ‘Deep is the Night’. Stuart has been with us for numerous productions, including playing John Profumo in ‘Scandal & Redemption’ and on our 2024 cruise ship adventures as Edwin in ‘Le Grand Return’.
Cori Love plays George Willson, husband of Laura Annie and proud member of the Independent Labour Party. He was cast after being directed by Alan in his role as Harry Bailey in ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ at Hebden Bridge Little Theatre. This is his first role with Talking Stock.
“Playing George is an honour,” says Cori. “I admire his bravery in championing his wife and standing firmly alongside her during such a challenging era.”
Cori’s real-life love is Molly Hannan (Young Laura Annie). They met a few years ago at Actor’s Workshop. “Sharing the stage with Molly again, alongside a wonderfully talented cast, is an absolute privilege,” he says. “George and Laura Annie had an incredible partnership. To tell their story with a company as brilliant as Talking Stock, makes this a deeply special experience.”
Hannah Head plays journalist Mabel Roberts and suffragette, Emily Davison. Halifax, Hebden Bridge and Huddersfield ‘theatre royalty’, Hannah’s talent and versatility is to her absolute credit. She has played a plethora of meaty roles over the years, from Martha in ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf’, the title role in ‘Hedda Gabler’ and most recently throwing sex stereotypes on their head to perform as Ebenezer Scrooge in ‘A Christmas Carol’ and Sidney Bruhl in ‘Deathtrap’.
This is Hannah’s second outing with Talking Stock having played the part of Emma in our 2017 production of ‘Dark Sky’. Says Hannah: “Last summer, a blue plaque appeared on the end terrace around the corner from my local. Laura Annie Willson, MBE 1877 – 1942. This Yorkshire trailblazer’s life was nothing short of fascinating and remarkable. What a privilege to be involved in the telling of her story – it’s inspirational stuff.”
Catherine Pasek is the juggler and deputy conductor of this merry band. As producer she’s also responsible for props, costume, music playing, rehearsal prompt and PR. In between all this (and stage managing) she’s leaping on and off stage to play a teacher, a wardress, a headmistress and (saving sheer gravitas until last) Emmeline Pankhurst.
A founder member of the Company alongside Alan, Catherine was last seen with Talking Stock in March as Lynne in ‘The Last Memory’. Her favourite role to date is Valerie Hobson in ‘Scandal & Redemption’.
“‘A Regular Terror’ is a sublime piece of writing,” she says. “It gets under the skin of women’s rights, feminism and an unjust society. Working with this fabulous cast truly is a joy.”
Alan Stockdill (writer and director) also plays two cameo roles: A Magistrate in Act 1 and Mr Akroyd the bank manager in Act 2. An absolute force of nature, this man’s energy and talent know no bounds. He’s pretty much unstoppable like a Duracell bunny! His last acting role with the Company was in March 2025 where he played the character of Freddy Fitton (based on himself) in the autobiographical play about his parents, ‘Deep is the Night’. A published playwright, Alan has written 15 dramas and he won the award for Best New Writing at the Greater Manchester Fringe for ‘Le Grand Return’. ‘A Regular Terror’ came to life after he clocked a blue plaque near the Big 6 pub in Savile Park.
“As soon as I saw the blue plaque for Laura Annie Willson I knew I had to write a play about her,” says Alan. “All my plays feature at least one strong woman – not necessarily by design, they appear of their own accord. I guess that’s what strong women do. Laura Annie is perhaps the strongest of them all. It’s been a privilege to bring her back to life and to tell the story of her generation of women, their struggles and their triumphs.”
TALKING STOCK is an independent theatre company which pledges to produce compelling theatre with a loving heart and a LOUD voice.
Alan Stockdill is a playwright based in Yorkshire, who has written several plays performed at Millgate Arts Centre : Le Grand Return, The Last Memory.
