My name is Peter John Cooper and I am a playwright working for AsOne Theatre Company of Weymouth.
2018 in the centenary of the publication of one of the most controversial and influential books of the 20th century – Married Love by Marie Stopes. This book and its successors, speaking openly about sex and birth control raised a storm that continues to this day. To escape that storm, Marie Stopes found a bolt-hole on Portland where she spent her summers at the Upper Lighthouse pursuing her fossil collecting. This collection led to her buying the cottages to make what is now the Portland Museum. As part of the commemoration of the publication of Married Love I have been commissioned by AsOne Theatre Company of Weymouth to write a play about Marie Stopes time on Portland. This extended from the 1920s until her death in 1958.
I would be pleased to hear from anyone who has any sort of recollection of Marie Stopes. Perhaps you served her in a shop, met her at the Museum opening or your grandfather was a tradesman who delivered to the Upper Lighthouse. If you ever met her or have heard any such snippets about her activities either from friends or relations I would be very grateful to hear from you.
Please email me on [email protected] or phone me on 01202 317287
