A SPECIAL film event in Cirencester Parish Church on Saturday, October 1 will take the audience back 100 years to see what life was like for women as they struggled to get the vote.

'Make More Noise: Suffragettes in Silent Film' is a compilation of comedy clips, newsreel and documentary film put together this year by the British Film Institute and includes some classic scenes from the time along with some rarely seen fascinating footage.

Colin Sell, familiar to many from Radio 4, will be accompanying the film on piano and there'll be some rousing songs from local singers.

Ailsa O'Connor, who's organising the evening on behalf of the Friends of Cirencester Parish Church, said: "I've watched the film through once and there are some amazing scenes of women working in munitions factories in the First World War alongside bizarre anarchic comedy.

"Emmeline Pankhurst urged the suffragettes to 'make more noise than anybody else, make yourself more obtrusive than anybody else, fill all the papers more than anybody else.'

"Cinema was born just as the campaign was gathering momentum and 100 years ago the suffragettes made it their business to get in front of the cameras as often as they could."

She added: "We're really lucky to have Colin playing for us. It will be an extra bonus to see him responding to the different moods on screen and I know he'll be a witty and charming host for the evening."

  •  Doors will open at 7pm and the evening will begin at 7.30pm.
  • Tickets cost £8 for adults and £4 for under 18s and are available from the Cirencester Visitor Information Centre.