Feminist Theatre Then & Now – Celebrating 50 Years of women theatre makers in the UK and Ireland and their battle to make their voices heard, have their work produced professionally, and promote social justice. Here, the pioneers and leading lights of the newly energised feminist theatre movement continue to fight for an equitable, diverse and inclusive theatre which speaks for all. In 30+ essays, covering three generations, the interviews and essays in this book give important insight into the lived experience of women working in theatre and what it takes to rise in an industry where race, gender, class and parenthood can be serious obstacles to success.

Interviews and essays by playwrights, directors, producers and actors including:

Asian Women’s Theatre in Britain by Rukhsana Ahmad

Derby Theatre by Sarah Brigham

Interview with Moira Buffini

Intersectional Feminism at Work by Kelly Burke

The Personal was very Political by Clair Chapwell

Behind The Lines by Alison Child

How Feminism has Influenced my Playwriting by April de Angelis

Interview with Suzanne Gorman

Clean Break by Anna Herrmann

Interview with Hannah Khalil

The Women in Theatre Lab by Polly Kemp and Jennifer Tuckett

Persistence, Expression and Evolution by Peta Lily

Interview with Roberta Livingston

Ecofeminism by Bibi Lucille

The Third World of Irish Women by Jaki McCarrick

Monstrous Regiment by Mary McCusker

Open Clasp Theatre by Catrina McHugh

Interview with Suzie Miller

Interview with Ann Mitchell

Interview with Rebecca Mordan

Interview with Amy Ng

Untold Stories by Maeve O’Neill

Girls’ Night Out by Rachel O’Regan

Interview with Kaite O’Reilly

Sphinx by Sue Parrish and Susan McGoun

Interview with Julia Pascal

Out of the Attic – WTW by Cheryl Robson and Anna Birch

Scylla’s Bite by Rebekah Smith and Abbie Lowe

Interview with Dame Rosemary Squire

Women in their own Words by Lucy Stevens

Stella Quines & After by Gerda Stevenson

Differences Matter by SuAndi

Theatre from a Lesbian Perspective by Clare Summerskill

Interview with Imy Wyatt Corner

Index

Reviews

“On the 50th anniversary of the first Women’s Theatre festival and the explosion of work by women that has built in quantity, wealth and diversity since then this is an important new book celebrating and giving voice to many of the key contributors to that rich history and exciting present. “ – Susan Croft, Director – Unfinished Histories

“Fascinating histories and perspectives from a selection of feminist theatre practitioners fighting to achieve equality over half a century of patriarchy.” – Lisa Goldman, Writer & Director

“A necessary read for drama students and anyone interested in our cultural history. Highly recommended.”

– Beatie Edney, Actor & Director

“The interview and essay structure of the book makes its near 300 pages easily digestible and the editor has quite carefully avoided a chronological structure. The intermingled ‘then’ and ‘now’ approach works remarkably well, a continual reminder of how past, present and future are feeding into one another all the time. While the book is strong on the impacts of earlier feminist theatremakers, the very similar or partially evolved restrictions that today’s women are still facing are given equivalent weight.

It becomes a meaningful arrangement in which a wide range of voices are heard without singling out or forgetting eras or areas of the industry, making room for everything from clowning to lesbian theatre, exploring how all forms of feminist theatre from West End platforms to grassroots activism always blends the political and the personal onstage and off.”

– Maryam Philpott, The Reviews Hub