Mary's Daughters goes to Edinburgh

by Billy Steel in London, Greater London, United Kingdom

Total raised £1,662

£3,000 target 42 days left
55% 19 supporters
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 1st June 2025 at 12:00pm

We are taking "Mary's Daughters" to the world famous Edinburgh Fringe! But we need your help...

by Billy Steel in London, Greater London, United Kingdom

**** LIVE EVENT ****

As part of our fundraising efforts we are screening a special preview of our new Mary's Daughters film at The Newington Green Meeting House on Friday 11th April at 7:30pm. More info below, so read on dear reader!

Tickets to the screening available here

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We are beyond thrilled to have secured a place at the world famous Edinburgh Fringe to showcase our play Mary’s Daughters! We’ve been overwhelmed by the reactions from people who have come to see the show, and the support from everyone in bringing this story to the stage. Edinburgh is one of the greatest platforms in the world to share new work, and it’s a dream come true to be taking our play there… but it’s really really expensive!!

We need as much help as we can find to cover the costs of venue hire, rehearsal space, costumes, train tickets, marketing materials like posters and flyers (and flyers and flyers) accommodation, bus fare, food probably, and a million other times that we’ll have to reach for our wallets to make this happen.

All donations and rewards go towards taking Mary to Edinburgh, so take a browse and see how you can support us!

NB: The rewards "fulfilment date" is set as the end of the fundraising campaign, however we will endeavour to enact all rewards asap from donation.

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When you say “we”… who is that?

The Mary’s Daughters Fringe team is made up of actors Kaya Bucholc, Megan Carter, and Rachael Reshma; director Kay Brattan; producer Billy Steel and BiLLO Studio. The play is written by Kaya Bucholc in collaboration with Will Wallace, and was first produced in London in March 2024. This team has been part of the Mary’s Daughters journey since the beginning and are so excited to have come so far together.

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I’m a busy person, tell me quick, what is “Mary’s Daughters”?
A new play about Mary Wollstonecraft, the 18th Century intellectual radical and mother of Western feminism, along with her two daughters: the forgotten-by-history, illegitimate love-child Fanny Imlay, and the infinitely more famous Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein.

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Ok, I’m listening, tell me more about this fascinating project

Centuries after their deaths, Mary Wollstonecraft reunites with daughters Mary Shelley and Fanny Imlay in a new feminist play which serves as a rallying cry for a world that centres kindness in divisive modern times.

Through the eyes of these three incredible women, we uncover their lasting cultural impact and their personal hardships as they battle through family, love, loss, rejection, and rebellion. With their spirits finally laid bare, they are able to find unity in their shared belief in the need for “radical kindness”.

Mary’s Daughters is a play that brings attention to a largely forgotten British cultural icon. Using the talents of a passionate female led group of creatives, this is an opportunity for female voices to tell female stories.

We are building on the momentum generated by our first two productions in 2024: incorporating new developments, a refined script, and a sharper, more polished show. We are excited for this project to provide an opportunity for the actors and creators involved to continue to hone their skills for a new audience, creating meaningful, world-class work for the stage.

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I love plays, but what if there was a movie?!

Reader, you’re in luck!! While in residence at The Newington Green Meeting House, a church once attended by Mary Wollstonecraft herself, we spent a day filming the show. It’s a beautifully shot, cinematic retelling of our stage production, and stands as a permanent expression of this play we’ve worked so hard on. As part of our fundraising efforts we are holding an exclusive screening of the film at The Meeting House itself, so come on down, have a drink, and see Mary and her daughters come alive on the big screen!

Tickets to the live screening are available here 

If you aren't based in London or are unable to attend the screening in person, look at the “Rewards” section for your opportunity to donate to our cause, get yourself a very special private link to the film for you to watch at home, and a whole host of other goodies and honours!

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Or enter custom amount

Rewards

This project offers rewards in return for your donation. Please select a reward below.

£20 or more

Private link to Mary's Daughters film

Mary's Daughters at Home – a private link to watch the new Mary's Daughters film in the comfort of your own home, as well as a “thank you” in the closing credits and on the BiLLO website. Filmed in the Newington Green Meeting House where Mary Wollstonecraft herself once attended, this film is a beautifully shot cinematic retelling of the stage production!

£10 or more

A "Thank You" in the Mary’s Daughters film credits

Did you know we made a film? Have your name immortalised in cinema in the closing credits of the Mary's Daughters film and on the BiLLO website for all time. Fundraiser debut screening of the film is happening at the Newington Green Meeting House on 11th April, so lookout for that opportunity to see your name on the big screen!

£30 or more

1 of 30 claimed

Private link and signed limited edition A3 poster!

Not only can you watch the riveting new Mary's Daughters film in the comfort of your own home, with a “thank you” in the closing credits and website, but you will be the envy of all your local theatre loving friends when they see your very own show poster, signed by the actors and director! Prepare for a thought provoking story with a side of green eyed visitors.

£60 or more

2 of 30 claimed

A "Very Special Thank You" + Singed BOOK!

See your name listed with the upper crust in the film's closing credits: “a Very Special Thank-you”! PLUS all the rewards from £20, and £30! PLUS a signed copy of your choice of a book featured in the play! Maybe you fancy Wollstonecraft's "Vindication of the Rights of Woman", Shelley's "Frankenstein", or maybe your the academic type who would enjoy the truly excellent "Vindication" by Wollstonecraft biographer Dr. Lyndall Gordon; it's up to you!

£100 or more

2 of 10 claimed

Private Online Q&A with Cast Member

In addition to your glorious home viewing experience, awe inspiring signed poster, signed book, and “a Very Special Thank-you” you will be treated to a remote session with actor/writer Kaya Bucholc to ask all your burning Wollstonecraft questions! Talk about Mary! Talk about theatre! Talk about Feminism! It's up to you in this once in a lifetime opportunity to get one-on-one time with one of the very women who bring this story to life on stage!

£500 or more

1 of 3 claimed

Executive Producer Credit!

Along with all the rewards from £20, £30, £60, and £100, you will see your name appear in the film's opening credit as "executive producer" as well as on the BiLLO website alongside the show’s cast and crew! Can you imagine how much fun that will be to tell people at parties? You're practically a member of BAFTA.

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