The Story of Edith Smith – Callister Gardens

This September, Oxton Playwrights CIC is delighted to bring Her Stories of Wirral back to the community with The Story of Edith Smith. Born in Oxton, Edith Smith went on to become Britain’s first female police constable with full powers of arrest. Her journey is one of resilience, loss and courage. At a time when women’s roles were tightly restricted, Edith rebuilt her life after personal tragedy and became a pioneering figure in public service. Serving in Grantham during the First World War, she worked with women and girls at a time of major social change, helping to challenge expectations of what women could do. Written and directed by Pauline Fleming and co-produced by Cornelia Cannell, The Story of Edith Smith is a site-responsive performance that brings Edith’s remarkable life back into the places connected to her story. The production forms part of Her Stories of Wirral, a two-year National Lottery Heritage Funded project exploring overlooked women’s histories from across the borough.