INSPIRED BY the #WakingTheFeminists movement, #wakingthefeministswest will celebrate west of Ireland female voices in theatre, dance, devised work, work from the archives, and work by emerging writers.
The event, led by NUI Galway Drama and Theatre Studies students, and supported by the Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance, will, from this month until May, stage work by, and involving Irish women playwrights, theatre-makers, and actors.
The event programme will be launched by The Irish Times Theatre Award nominated designer, arts manager, and leader of #WakingTheFeminists, Lian Bell, this evening [Thursday January 28] at 7pm, in the Hardiman Research Building, Room G010.
Among the plays being performed are Grainne by Lady Augusta Gregory, directed by Justine Nakase, (Bank of Ireland Theatre, NUIG, tonight and tomorrow, 8pm ); a devised ensemble piece, 100 Shades of Grey, directed by Charlotte McIvor, (Bank of Ireland Theatre, February 8 and 9, 8pm ); and Mount Prospect by Elizabeth Connor, directed by Ciara O’Dowd and Thomas Conway (Town Hall Theatre studio, February 25 and 26, 8.30pm ). Further events will be announced next month.
This initiative is being led by drama and theatre studies PhD students Justine Nakase and Nelson Barre, and involves participation from students from first year to PhD level, as well as staff. Nakase and Barre offer that they are interested in "excavating historic women’s voices and elevating contemporary ones’ and hope that this programme actively challenges the argument that women’s lack of representation in theatre as playwrights among other roles is due to a ‘lack of female talent".
All are welcome to this evening's launch. For more information on the programme or for ticket reservations, email [email protected].
