A comedian wants to speak to women to inspire a production.

Ruth Cockburn, from Blackpool is writing a show which will premiere at Great Harwood Library autumn 2021 before heading out on tour.

Called Miss Nobodies, the show is named after a book by the late Lancashire-born author Ethel Carnie Holdsworth, who became the first working class woman in Britain to have a novel published.

Despite Miss Cockburn's initial plans to engage with local businesses and head out to meet and interview Great Harwood women, she is making the most of modern technology to virtually connect with women who are providing the inspiration for her writing, and she is hoping to speak to more.

She said: “I’m so excited about this show, particularly as I’m not able to perform at the moment.

"I’m putting all my energy into writing Miss Nobodies and I’m having an absolute ball hearing women’s stories about Great Harwood that otherwise may never have been shared. I’ve laughed and I’ve cried.

“When I talk to people who aren’t local, not many have heard of Great Harwood and that’s one thing I want to change through this show. It seems more relevant than ever that isolation is one of the themes I also wanted to explore."

Isolation is something Miss Cockburn wishes to explore as she says people from small, rural communities have a lot of experience of.

She said: "I also want to amplify the voices of women in Lancashire who perhaps haven’t had a voice before.

"Women like Ethel Carnie Holdsworth, who is such an inspiration to me. Sadly, despite her creative success she died penniless and unknown but now her books are becoming popular with a new generation.

"I’m really keen to hear from people with a connection to Great Harwood. The words of people I’m interviewing will be part of the fabric of my new show.

"It’s going to be very special and I’m really looking forward to performing again."

Miss Nobodies has been commissioned by Spot On Lancashire, a strategic, grassroots arts service run by people who love to support volunteers in isolated communities and in urban library settings.

They are 'passionate about audiences and believe they deserve a great night out on their doorstep.'

Miss Cockburn also does stand-up comedy and regularly performs across Europe. She has appeared at the National Theatre, The Comedy Store and Shakespeare’s Globe.

For more information about Miss Nobodies visit www.ruthecockburn.co.uk