The Disappearance of Miss Bebb, by Alex Giles

Date: 2 April 2017

Location: Middle Temple Hall

From medieval times to the early twentieth century, the view of women in relation to the Law was that ‘THERE IS NO PLACE FOR THEM, neither on the bench nor in the jury box’. In 1913 Gwyneth Bebb, top law student of her year at Oxford (and the only woman), challenged The Law Society’s refusal to allow her to become a solicitor purely on the basis of the ‘disqualification of sex’.

The pioneering women fighting the Bebb v The Law Society case had to battle extraordinary prejudice from the male legal and parliamentary establishment but despite endless setbacks over nearly a decade they finally prevailed to allow the equality of entrance we have today.

So what happened to the extraordinary, talented lawyer who gave her name to this landmark case?

This year’s Kalisher performance was the world premiere of Alex Giles’ fascinating new play THE DISAPPEARANCE OF MISS BEBB which tells her inspiring and tragic story and which resonates powerfully with the work of The Kalisher Trust a century later.

The motto of The Kalisher Trust is ‘inspiring advocacy’. Our goals are aligned with those of the women behind the landmark case in 1913; to seek out and support the brightest and the best future advocates whatever their gender, social, ethnic or cultural background to ensure that our justice system is as diverse and accessible as possible.

Cast List:

• Foley Artist, Pianist, Newspaper Boy – David Osmond
• Miss Gwyneth Bebb (later Mrs Thomson) – Laura Main
• Mrs Louisa Marion Bebb, Gwyneth’s mother – Carolyn Backhouse
• Rev’d Bebb, Gwyneth’s Father – Martin Fisher
• Mr Henry Jeffries, suitor (later husband) to Louise Bebb – Mark Farelly
• Miss Louise Bebb (later Mrs Jeffries) – Vivienne Rowdon
• Miss Karin Costello (later Mrs Stephens) – Flora Spencer Longhurst
• Miss Nancy Nettlefold – Lauren Coe
• Miss Maud Ingram (later Mrs Crofts) – Melanie Gutteridge
• Miss Rosemary Crofts, Maud’s daughter – Vivienne Rowdon
• Mr (later Lord) Stanley Buckmaster KC – Martin Shaw
• Mr Justice Joyce – Sir Brian Leveson
• Miss Chrystal MacMillan – The Rt. Hon. The Baroness Hale of Richmond DBE
• Mr (later Major) Hills MP – Hugh Dennis
• Mr Thomas Thomson, a country solicitor – Ray Fearon
• Lord Birkenhead, supporter to the cause – Martin Fisher
• Lord Finlay, Chair of The Law Society & later, Lord Chief Justice – Mark Farelly
• Ticket Collector/Scientist/Shopkeeper/Reporter 3 – Vivienne Rowdon
• Scientist/Reporter 1/Usher/Factory manager – Mark Rose
• Mr Hughes/MC/Reporter 2 – Mark Farelly

• Directed by Joe Harmston
• Music arranged/composed by David Osmond

We are indebted to Distributed Sound and Lighting Ltd, Polly Meynell, Charlotte Bromley Davenport and the numerous supporters whose quiet but vital aid made this event possible.

Gallery of images: