‘City of Women’ celebrates the advance of women in and around the City of London, in their own words.

'City of Women' is a project and performance dedicated to amplifying the voices of women past and present from the City of London. Originally the entirety of London, and later comprising half of it, until 200 years ago, The City encapsulates a multitude of women with diverse experiences.

In 2018, the project made its debut in Leadenhall Market, commissioned by the Corporation of London, to commemorate the centenary of women's right to vote. The market, historically a bustling food hub, was chosen as the venue due to its role as a space where women actively engaged in buying and selling. The performance highlighted the contributions of women, including meat porters who did heavy lifting until the 1840s. Notable figures, ranging from a young watercress vendor proud of her earnings to the accomplished Hester Pinney, were featured.

Fast forward to 2024, 'City of Women' expands its scope by incorporating the voices of current inspiring women working in the City, championing their achievements and sharing the challenges they have faced as women in the workplace. Words from conversations with Veronica Horwell and Tessa Marchington, Director of Music in Offices, who has brought these women together, will be heard at the performance on 7th March, 2024.

Hear some extracts of the piece here.

Read Quotes from City Women Past & Present

Meet the Finale soloist

Emi.kko is a 24 year old queer singer-songwriter hailing from East London. 

Emi has performed on stages such as the BST Festival, The Great Escape and the Royal Albert Hall, all before turning 18. Since then, they have been a part of Elton John’s Rocket Music up until the company's closing in 2019, released numerous songs on streaming platforms and gained the attention of audiences both in the UK and overseas. More recently, Emi has been writing and self-producing a project they hope to release later this year.