Women of Scilly take centre stage in landmark new museum exhibition

‍A powerful new exhibition celebrating the lives, voices and experiences of women across the Isles of Scilly is set to become a permanent feature of the new Isles of Scilly Museum and Cultural Centre.

Created by feminist theatre company Scary Little Girls, the project brings together an extraordinary archive of 60 women’s stories gathered from across the islands. From young women to some of Scilly’s oldest residents, the collection reflects a rich cross-section of island life — those who live and work on the islands, who have raised families there, and who carry deep connections to its communities and landscapes.

Over multiple visits to the islands, the company conducted in-depth interviews and hosted a series of community sharing events titled No Woman is an Island, creating space for stories to be told and preserved.

The Scary Little Girls team will be working in collaboration with the Isles of Scilly Museum and Cultural Centre and exhibition designers Imagemakers to create a major new permanent display in the new museum’s galleries. The exhibition will be accompanied by a specially commissioned 20-minute film, bringing the voices and experiences of Scilly’s women vividly to life.

This is the first project of its kind to focus solely on the stories of women from across the Isles of Scilly, marking a significant moment in recognising and preserving an often-underrepresented part of the islands’ heritage.

Lydia Bassett, director of the Isles of Scilly Museum and Cultural Centre, said: “These are the kinds of stories that don’t always make it into the history books, but they are absolutely central to life on the islands. What Scary Little Girls have created is something really special – a rich, honest and deeply human picture of Scilly, told through the voices of women who live it every day. We’re so proud that this will become a permanent part of the new museum, and that these stories will be shared with visitors and islanders for generations to come.”

The exhibition will also feature an illustrated map by artist Vicky Heaney, offering a visual interpretation of the islands through the stories collected. The History Press has also commissioned a book based on the interviews.

As Scary Little Girls’ travelling Karavan, their mobile archive of Cornish stories, could not be transported to the islands, five female artists from across Scilly were commissioned to create intricate suitcase dioramas inspired by the archive.

Rebecca Mordan, artistic director of Scary Little Girls, said: “These are stories of work, family, resilience, creativity and community – and they deserve to be seen and heard. It’s been a privilege to spend time on the islands and to work with so many generous women. To now see these voices become part of a permanent exhibition feels incredibly meaningful, and we hope it resonates with everyone who experiences it.”

The exhibition forms part of the wider vision for the new Isles of Scilly Museum and Cultural Centre, currently under development in the restored Grade II-listed Town Hall in Hugh Town, St Mary’s. Years in the making, the new centre will provide a permanent home for the museum following its closure in 2019.

When complete, the centre will feature four galleries exploring Scilly’s rich heritage – from shipwrecks and seafaring to island life, nature and artistic inspiration – alongside a 145-seat theatre, a year-round café and bar overlooking Porthcressa beach and a vibrant programme of events, exhibitions and community activities.

While construction continues, the museum team is already bringing Scilly’s stories to life through pop-up exhibitions and collaborative projects across the islands, with this landmark exhibition set to become a defining part of the new museum’s offer.

Scary Little Girls is a feminist theatre company, started over twenty years ago by artistic director Rebecca Mordan. Set up to provide opportunities for women in the creative arts and challenge sexism, their mission is to tell underrepresented stories and to give a platform to the voices less heard.

They also run the Greenham Women Everywhere project – bringing a hugely important piece of feminist heritage into public access. This National Lottery-funded project saw the team interview over 200 of the women who formed the Greenham Common Peace Camp between 1981 and 2000.

Over the years, Scary Little Girls has carved out a unique space within the national arts agenda. One of the few feminist theatre companies in the UK and at almost 25 years old, one of the oldest, the production company has provided opportunities for hundreds of women to continue their careers in the creative arts. Scary Little Girls has, on average per year over their 24 years, worked with over 100 creative arts freelancers across the UK, with a 98% female freelance workforce.

To discover more about the work of Scary Little Girls: