The extraordinary untold story of one of the most important female politicians of the past century is to be told in a radical new play that reveals her crucial role in Westminster’s first-ever ‘power couple’.
Whilst husband Nye Bevan’s achievement in forming the NHS has secured its rightful place in history, the role of wife Jennie Lee has long escaped mainstream prominence.
At the age of 24, having left her Scottish mining village, Lee became Westminster’s youngest MP, even though, as a woman in 1929, she couldn’t vote herself.
Having first served under Harold Wilson she was appointed the first ever Minister for the Arts, was the founder of the Open University and helped save the National Youth Orchestra from extinction.
In 1970 the Labour MP was created a Baroness. She died in 1988.
Baroness Jennie Lee (Image: Getty)
Described as “tenacious, bold, and rebellious”, Lee cut her own unique path through history – even playing a suspected role in commissioning the infamous portrait that drove Winston Churchill to the point of fury.
The painting of Churchill by Graham Sutherland was commissioned as a birthday present by a parliamentary committee chaired by the then Baroness Lee of Asheridge.
But when it was unveiled publicly in 1954, Churchill described it as “a remarkable example of modern art” before expressing his fury at parliamentary aides.
The painting was burnt on a bonfire by Grace Hamblin, Lady Churchill’s secretary, who grew tired of hearing how much her boss detested it.
Despite being at odds with the war-time hero, Lee’s role in supercharging the arts was so loved by theatre-goers during the swinging 60s that she would be applauded whenever she took her seat in an auditorium.
The 80th birthday portrait hated by Sir Winston Churchill (Image: Getty)
Now her story is to be told in the play Jennie Lee by pioneering Yorkshire-theatre group Mikron – timed to coincide with the National Theatre show about her husband Nye, starring Michael Sheen.
The production penned by Lindsay Rodden, features original songs in Music Hall and 1920s Flappers-style, and audiences will witness Lee’s encounters with leading political figures including Wilson, Churchill and Margaret Thatcher.
Lindsay said: “When I first decided to find out about the remarkable life of Jennie Lee, I knew very little about her. I knew about her commitment to bettering the lives of her class, how striking and fascinating she seemed, and that she was usually known, if she was known at all, as the wife of Aneurin Bevan.
She faced down Winston Churchill and clashed with Margaret Thatcher
“What I didn’t know then was that this daughter of a coal-miner, who became an MP at an age when, as a woman, she couldn’t even vote herself, lived a long and fascinating life, bore witness to the all the horror and pride of the twentieth century, and made history herself.
“Her life was full of drama and theatre, and I knew I had to put it on the stage. In fact I could have written three plays from her eighty-eight years of struggle and triumph, and telling her story with a cast of just four – luckily supremely talented – actors has been quite the challenge.
“Jennie faced down Churchill in the Commons on her first appearance, she travelled all over the world, and she gave us the Arts Council and the Open University as we know them. She was clever, erudite, stylish and funny, stubborn and sharp too. I wish I had known her. Putting her on the stage is the next best thing. I can’t wait for audiences to get to know her too.”
Jennie Lee election campaign poster (Image: Getty)
Artistic Director Marianne McNamara added: “Jennie’s story is remarkable. A working class woman in the 1920s, who despite her humble beginnings went on to achieve so much.
“She always fought for the betterment of everyone’s lives. Her name should be as well known as her husband, Nye.”
Jennie Lee premieres at Marsden Mechanics Hall on 5 April and will tour nationally throughout the summer.
For further information visit http://mikron.org.uk