ED2019 Cabaret ED2019 Preview Edition ED2019 Spoken Word ED2019 Theatre ED2019 Three To See

Three To See 2019: Feminist Themes

By Caro Moses | Published on Saturday 3 August 2019

ThreeWeeks Co-Editor Caro Moses helps you navigate the Festival with her Three To See tips. This time three shows with feminist themes.

Hear Word! Naija Woman Talk True | The Lyceum | 19-25 Aug
I’m pretty sure that, over the last few years, there’s been an increase in the number of shows that are about feminist issues, or which explore the lives and culture of women. This year the programmes are, as ever, bursting with such productions, so it was quite hard to pick just three of them. We are starting with this International Festival show, described as “a life-affirming call for female solidarity and empowerment”, which offers an insight into the lives of Nigerian women and the obstacles they face. Ten of the country’s biggest stars tell stories of domestic violence, resilience and resistance, joy, sisterhood, and more, in what promises to be a funny, frank and honest performance. Listing here.

Bait: Kill The Princess | Heroes @ The SpiegelYurt | 1-25 Aug (pictured)
I know this sounds violent, but don’t get the wrong idea, I am sure there won’t be any actual princess slaying. Because I think what’s intended to get the axe here is the gender stereotypes that currently rule our lives and continue to be perpetuated – despite decades of resistance from feminists – by advertising, the media, books, workplaces… the list goes on. The creative types behind this piece are Lizzy Shakespeare and Michelle Madsen, a pair of Lecoq/LISPA-trained clowns, poets and storytellers who are going to use their myriad skills to create a thought-provoking and genre defying work. Listing here.

Tea?… (With Milk) | theSpace @ Surgeon’s Hall | 12-24 Aug
“‘Are you part of the 51% that is told to change almost every part of your natural body? You should cover up those bags under your eyes, Ewww, that spot on your chin – rub acid on it. Get rid of the moustache! Armpit hair – gross. Laser off all your natural hair below your eyebrows. Cover yourself in expensive products… because you’re worthless!’” Well, it very much sounds as though whoever devised this piece is mighty fed up with all the commercial and media pressure on women to conform to contemporary beauty standards. And I can reveal that it’s another talented duo, Niamh Callan and Elisha-Grace Lawrence, who’ve put together this promising play about two friends trying to work out what feminism means to them. Listing here.

Photo: Nicole Taliotis