(illustration by Megan-Ceri Dabbs)
Beth Watson and Pippa Sa talk gender representation on stage with a different special guest on each episode. Featuring discussion of current and upcoming #BechdelTest friendly theatre shows.
If you’d like to suggest show we should be talking about, or a guest to interview, email hello@bechdeltheatre.com or tweet @BechdelTheatre.
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EPISODE THIRTY-THREE
Little Miss Burden with Matilda Ibini
Matilda Ibini is a playwright and screen-writer from East London. She is the writer of Little Miss Burden, a five-star-reviewed coming-of-age tale that smashes together 90s nostalgia, Nigerian family, East London and Sailor Moon to tell the sometimes tricky, often funny truth about growing up with a physical impairment.
Matilda also recently worked as dramaturg on Eve Leigh’s Midnight Movie, a new play exploring what it is like to have a digital body, when your physical body is always glitching and letting you down.
Little Miss Burden is at The Bunker until Dec 21
Midnight Movie is at The Royal Court until Dec 21
Matilda’s #FeministFaves were Triple Cripples podcast
Crutchesandspice.com by American activist Imani Barbarin
Jillian Macardo – model and actor (currently in the new series of The L Word)
Kelechi Okafor – actor, pole/twerking teacher and her podcast Say Your Mind
Danielle Dash – writer and TV executive.
Pippa’s #FeministFaves were YouTubers – Jessica Kellgren-Fozard &
Beth’s #FeministFave was the podcast Dolly Parton’s America.
More recommendations…
The Girl With Glitter In Her Eye The Bunker Jan 12 -13, 19 – 20, 26 – 27
Scenes With Girls The Royal Court Jan 15 – Feb 22
The Undefinable Camden People’s Theatre Dec 10 – 21
Pecsmas The Yard until Dec 20
The Family Jewels NYE Y2K House Party DIY Space Dec 31
Fairview Young Vic until Jan 23
Christmas At The Snowglobe Shakespeare’s Globe Dec 19 – 23
Swive Sam Wanamaker Playhouse Dec 7 – Feb 15
EPISODE THIRTY-TWO
Trojan Horse with Madiha Ansari
Madiha Ansari specialises in cultural engagement, specifically for communities of South Asian women. She is the founder and director of arts-based social enterprise The Cultural Ecology Project which aims to make art accessible to those in the most deprived and vulnerable areas of society.
You can contact her at madiha@lungtheatre.co.uk or follow her at @AnsariMadiha.
Madiha’s #feministfaves were the Muslim Women’s Council, Cate Blanchet and the Pakistani movie Cake.
Pippa’s is Leslie Feinberg’s Stone Butch Blues.
Beth’s is Samira Ahmed’s equal pay challenge to the BBC.
More recommendations…
And So The Choir Gathers The Bunker Nov 17 & 18
i will still be whole (when you rip me in half) & Before I Was A Bear is on until 23rd November. Use ticket discount BECHDEL10 to join us for our audience discussion on Thursday 21 November.
Little Miss Burden The Bunker Dec 4 – 21
Midnight Movie Royal Court Nov 27 – Dec 21
Post Popular Soho Theatre Dec 3 – 14
Bitch on Heat Soho Theatre Dec 5 – 14
Venus Soho Theatre Jan 13 – 18
Three Sisters National Theatre Dec 3 – Feb 19
OH YES OH NO Battersea Arts Centre until Nov 23
EASY Blue Elephant until Nov 23
Aladdin and the Feast of Wonders The Vaults until Jan 15
EPISODE THIRTY-ONE
Red Palace with Porscha Present and Camilla Harding
Porscha Present is a singer, pianist, performer, and tutor currently playing Mermaid, Baba Yaga in Red Palace.
Camilla Harding is a performer, actor, and drag-dabbler currently playing Prince, Wolf, and an unnamed mystery character in Red Palace.
Red Palace is a Shotgun Carousel production, written by Cressida Peever and directed by Celine Lowenthal. It’s running at The Vaults until January 12.
Porscha’s #FeministFaves are femmes with facial hair, the Gurls Talk online community founded by Adwoa Aboah, and the model Sophia Hadjipanteli.
Milly’s #FeministFave is the tattoo artist Mani.Tattoo who focuses on tattooing as a sacred and ancient art, and often tattoos darker skin and people of colour.
Beth’s #FeministFaves are the apocalyptic zombie movie The Girl With All The Gifts netflix, and the documentary about women running for congress Knock Down The House netflix.
Pippa’s #FeministFaves are lesbian activist folk singer-songwriter Grace Petrie and her song Black Tie, plus a series of articles about Butch identities recently published on Refinery29: Butch Is Beautiful, and A Butch Dandy & A Trans Man Get Real About The Intersection Of Their Identities.
More recommendations…
The Pleasance Theatre’s Best of Edinburgh Fringe including:
Bible John & Honeybee Nov 2 – 3
Madame Ovary Nov 8 – 10
A History of Water In The Middle East The Royal Court until Nov 16
i will still be whole (when you rip me in half) bunker The Bunker Nov 12 – 23
(Read Pippa’s blog response to i will still be whole, and listen to our podcast episode with writer Ava Wong Davies)
Before I Was A Bear The Bunker Nov 12 – 23
(Use the discount code BECHDEL10 for a cheap ticket and join us for a post-show audience conversation about Before I Was A Bear on Thurs Nov 21)
Girl From Nowhere at The Bedford Nov 13 – 14
I’m A Phoenix, Bitch at HOME Manchester Nov 26 – 30
Plant Fetish at HOME Manchester Nov 27 – 30
Abortion Rights Abortion Cabaret at Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club on Nov 6.
Fokin’ Bring It On Lads at Rosemary Branch Nov 6 – 9
[Blank] The Donmar Warehouse until Nov 30.
Burgerz on tour, tickets available in Warwick, Birmingham, Bristol, and Cambridge, until Dec 1.
(Listen to our podcast episode with Travis Alabanza)
Queens of Sheba touring to Bristol, Warwick, Battersea, Essex & Leicester. Until Nov 29.
(Listen to our podcast episode talking about Queens of Sheba)
Trojan Horse touring to Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Halifax, Liverpool, Huddersfield, Doncaster, Hull, Lancaster, Norwich, Mold, Bradford, London, and Birmingham. Until Nov 21.
It’s True, It’s True, It’s True touring to Manchester, Doncaster, Sheffield, Nottingham, Newcastle, East Riding, Warwick, Salisbury York, Plymouth, Oxford, Halifax and Leeds. Until Nov 23.
Desiree’s Coming Early Soho Theatre Nov 11 – 23
Since U Been Gone Camden People’s Theatre Nov 19 – 20
(Listen to our podcast episode with Teddy Lamb)
I, AmDram Camden People’s Theatre Nov 26 – 30.
EPISODE THIRTY
Parakeet with Brigitte Aphrodite & Michelle Tiwo
The fourth episode in a series of podcasts covering Edinburgh Fringe 2019.
Listen back to the previous episodes with Mika Johnson & Teddy Lamb, Travis Alabanza, and Emily Aboud & Charlotte Dowding, and look out on our social media for tour dates to see their shows.
You can now support Bechdel Theatre on Patreon with a monthly donation of $1.
Brigitte Aphrodite is a punk poet, musician, writer, theatre maker and feminist showgirl. Brigitte is the writer of Parakeet, and performs as a parakeet underscoring the show.
Michelle Tiwo is an actor, poet and model, and the lead performer in Parakeet.
Brigitte’s #FeministFaves are…
Music: Pink Suits, Self Esteem, Big Joanie, The Tuts, Dream Wife, Kate Nash, Lunatraktors
Books: Period Power by Maisie Hill, Laura Dockrill’s books for children & young adults.
Poet: Neelam Saredia-Brayley
Michelle’s #FeministFaves are…
Travis Alabanza & their writing about Edinburgh Fringe
Ruth Sutoye & Bald Black Girls
Tobi Kyeremateng & The Black Ticket Project
Poetry & art from: Touching Bass, Steam Down, Andrea Phillips, Vanessa Kisuule, Rachael Young, Theresa Lola, The Rap Party, Belinda Zhawi & Born::Free
Michelle & Brigitte’s Edinburgh recommendations…
How To Be Brave by Dirty Protest
Burgerz by Travis Alabanza (Autumn tour includes: Dublin, Newcastle, Glasgow, Warwick, Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge & London)
The End & One by Bert & Nasi (One is coming to Battersea Arts Centre in October)
Civilization by Antler Theatre
Class & Fat Blokes By Scottee (Class is coming to Home in Manchester in Oct & touring in 2020)
EPISODE TWENTY-NINE
“Carnival is gay as shit” in Splintered with Emily Aboud and Charlotte Dowding
Emily Aboud is the director and writer of Splintered.
Charlotte Dowding is one of the three performers in Splintered.
Splintered is a Lagahoo Theatre production which uses cabaret, carnival, and recorded interviews with LGBTQ+ people in Trinidad and Tobago to tell the stories of Queer people in the Caribbean. It’s on every night during Edinburgh Fringe, at Bedlam Theatre 21:30.
Emily’s #FeministFaves are soca artist Nailah Blackman & dancehall artist Shenseea.
Charlotte’s #FeministFave is The Slumflower, and her book What A Time To Be Alone.
Other #EdFringe shows mentioned in this episode…
Girl Scouts vs Aliens at Assembly George Square at 12:10
Pink Lemonade at Assembly Roxy at 15:45 every other day (listen to our previous episode featuring Pink Lemonade writer/performer Mika Johnson)
Typical at Pleasance Courtyard 16:30
EPISODE TWENTY-EIGHT
Burgerz with Travis Alabanza
The second Bechdel Theatre podcast from Edinburgh Fringe 2019!
Follow us on instagram & twitter, and read our blog for constant updates of EdFringe shows to see. If you want to support our work at Edinburgh you can still do so via our GoFundMe, Ko-Fi, and Patreon pages.
Travis Alabanza is a performer, writer and theatre-maker based in London (via Bristol). Their show BURGERZ is on at the Traverse Theatre at varying times until August 25th (except the 5th, 12th & 19th), and then on tour, going to Dublin, Newcastle, Glasgow, Warwick, Birmingham, Bristol, and London’s Southbank Centre.
Travis’ #FeministFave is community activist, writer, trainer & facilitator Nim Ralph.
Pippa’s #FeministFave is singer-songwriter King Princess.
Beth’s #FeministFave is the organisers of BiFest, Bi Pride, and #BwiththeT.
Travis’ #EdFringe show recommendations are…
Black Holes Zoo Southside 14:20 (Aug 19-25th)
Nightclubbing/OUT Summerhall 15:45
Pink Lemonade & Since U Been Gone Assembly Roxy 15:45
(listen to our interview with Mika Johnson & Teddy Lamb on our first EdFringe2019 podcast)
Class Assembly Roxy 16:05
Crystal Rasmussen Underbelly Cowgate 17:50
Sex Education Summerhall 19:10
Sofie Hagen: The Bumswing Pleasance Dome 19:00
Sophie Duker: Venus Pleasance Courtyard 19:00
Lucy McCormick: Post Popular Pleasance Courtyard 20:00
Shit Theatre Drink Rum With Expats Summerhall 20:05
Splintered Bedlam Theatre 21:30
EPISODE TWENTY-SEVEN
The Queer House Double Bill with Mika Johnson and Teddy Lamb
This episode is the first Bechdel Theatre podcast from Edinburgh Fringe 2019!
Follow us on instagram & twitter, and read our blog for constant updates of EdFringe shows to see. If you want to support our work at Edinburgh you can still do so via our GoFundMe, Ko-Fi, and Patreon pages.
Mika Johnson is a writer and performer from Nottingham. Their show Pink Lemonade is on at Assembly Roxy at 15:45 on odd dates.
Teddy Lamb is a playwright and theatre-maker from Warwickshire. Their show Since U Been Gone is on at Assembly Roxy at 15:45 on even dates.
Mika and Teddy’s shows are both being co-produced by The Queer House and HighTide Theatre. The Queer House is an agency and production company for LGBTQIA+ actors, performers and theatre-makers.
Teddy’s #FeministFave is Bethany Rutter and her debut novel No Big Deal.
Mika’s #FemininstFave is the book Kings Queens and Inbetweens by Tanya Boteju.
Beth’s #FeministFave is Cerys Bradley’s podcast The Coming Out Tapes.
Pippa’s #FeministFave is the Channel 4 TV show Drag SOS.
ALL the recommendations featured on this episode can be found on our latest blog post: Shows to see at Edinburgh Fringe 2019.
EPISODE TWENTY-SIX
Salt. with Selina Thompson and Rochelle Rose
Selina Thompson is an artist and performer based in Leeds, who has been creating autobiographical work since 2014.
salt. Is part of a wider body of Selina’s work looking at Black British identity. It focuses on grief, home, Afro-pessimism, the Black Atlantic, the forgetting of the UK’s colonial history and the impact that has on the daily life of Caribbean communities in the UK today.
Rochelle Rose is an actor and singer who is playing the role of The Woman in salt. for the show’s Royal Court run.
You can see salt. at the Royal Court until June 1st. We also recommend checking out Selina’s Reading List for salt. which includes books, films, music, and twitter accounts to follow.
Selina’s #FeministFave is Rebecca Sugar’s cartoon series Steven Universe.
Rochelle’s #FeministFave is her Grandmothers.
Beth’s #FeministFave is the TV series Pose, which is currently available to watch in the UK on BBC iPlayer.
Pippa’s #FeministFave is the Olympic Gold-medallist Caster Semenya. Follow and support her on twitter& instagram.
Selina’s show recommendations…
Travis Alabanza’s Burgerz (touring throughout 2019, including Edinburgh throughout August)
Sue MacLaine’s Vessel
Alexandrina Hemsley & Seke Chimutengwende’s Black Holes
Rachael Young’s Nightclubbing (Folkestone on June 15, then Edinburgh until August 11)
Demi Nandhra’s Life Is No Laughing Matter
Unfolding Theatre’s Hold On Let Go (Battersea Arts Centre, then Edinburgh throughout August)
Tim Etchells’ To Move In Time
Beth & Pippa are hosting an audience discussion after Kill Climate Deniers at The Pleasance on June 8th – use the code BECHDEL12 to get a discount ticket and join the conversation.
EPISODE TWENTY-FIVE
Wondrous Vulva & The Vagina Museum with Florence Schechter
Florence Schechter is the founder of the Vagina Museum, which will be the first ever bricks-and-mortar museum dedicated to vaginas, vulvas and the gynaecological anatomy. You can donate to the Vagina Museum’s Crowdfunder Page to help them make the museum a physical reality.
Rojoicing At Her Wondrous Vulva The Young Woman Applauded Herself is Bella Heesom’s second collaboration with director Donnacadh O’Briain and co-performer Sara Alexander. You can listen to our interview with Bella about her previous show My World Has Exploded A Little Bit in episode 2 of our podcast.
Florence’s #FeministFave is Second Shelf bookshop in the West End which sells rare and antiquarian books, modern first editions, ephemera, manuscripts, and rediscovered works by women.
Beth’s #FeministFave is Lizzo’s new album Cuz I Love You
Pippa’s #FeministFave is the book Fierce Femmes and Notorius Liars: A Dangerous Trans Girl’s Confabulous Memoir by Kai Cheng Thom
More recommendations…
Funeral Flowers Bernie Grant Arts Centre May 29 – Jun 1
Salt. Royal Court until Jun 1
Does My Bomb Look Big In This Soho Theatre until Jun 8
Yvette The Bush Theatre until Jun 4 & Manchester Royal Exchange Jun 6-8
Firecracker (First Bite) Ovalhouse Jun 6-8
Sweat The Gielgud Jun 7 – Jul 20
Fantabulosa! Touring outdoor festivals across England until September
Kill Climate Deniers The Pleasance Jun 4-28 (including a Bechdel Theatre post-show audience discussion on June 8 – listen to the end of this episode for a discount code!)
EPISODE TWENTY-FOUR
Live at VAULT 2019 with Ava Wong Davies and Lyn Gardner (in association with Stagedoor)
Ava Wong Davies writes about theatre for Exeunt Magazine, The Stage, and on her own blog. Her debut as a playwright: i will still be whole (when you rip me in half) was at VAULT Festival this year.
Lyn Gardner is the critic for the Stagedoor app. In the past she has written theatre reviews for The Guardian, The Stage and The Independent. She also writes children’s novels.
Read what Lyn wrote about Ava’s play i will still be whole (when you rip me in half) on Stagedoor, and Pippa’s piece of embedded criticism about the play on our blog.
Ava’s #FeministFave was her friend Eve Allin, who writes about theatre, art and music.
Lyn’s #FeministFave was American poet and essayist Adrienne Rich.
Audience #FeministFaves were:
Jasmine Paris – a runner who became the first woman to win the 268 mile ultra-marathon Spine Race while breastfeeding.
Carol Christ – an academic who writes about women in religion and Goddess Feminism.
Claudia Jones – the Trinidad-born political activist and community leader who founded Notting Hill Carnival.
Beth’s #FeministFave was art critic duo The White Pube.
Pippa #FeministFave was menstrual product activist Amika George.
Recommendations…
Dismantle this Room Royal Court Apr 6 – 27
White Pearl Royal Court May 10 – Jun 15
Salt Royal Court May 14 – Jun 1
A Piece of The Continent The Actor’s Centre until Apr 27
I’m Here, Where Are You? Cambridge Junction Apr 26 – 27
Out Of Water Orange Tree Theatre Apr 27 – Jun 1
Rebel Season The Albany Apr 11 – Jun 1
Funeral Flowers The Bunker Apr 15 – May 4
Fuck You Pay Me The Bunker May 7 – 19
A Life Sentence Cat’s Back Theatre (Wandsworth Arts Festival) May 5 – 6
Ad Libido & HOTTER Soho Theatre May 7 – 11
Rejoicing At Her Wondrous Vulva The Young Woman Applauded Herself Ovalhouse May 9 – 25
The Party Somewhere Else Nottingham Playhouse May 14 – 18
Calm Down Dear Camden People’s Theatre from May 27
Rotterdam on tour to locations including: Oxford, Manchester, Eastbourne, Southampton, Birmingham until Jun 22
The Amber Trap Theatre503 Apr 24 – May 18
J’Ouvert Theatre503 May 29 – Jun 22
Episode Twenty-Three
BEATing the system with Chi Thai
Chi Thai is a Vietnamese born, British raised filmmaker. She has been a Cannes Lions finalist three times and her work has competed at Academy accredited festivals. She is part of the Guiding Lights alumnus & listed in Creative England’s Top 50 companies. She is currently in production with Automat, a new film starring Sophie Wu. Watch the trailer.
Chi is one of the founders of BEATS: a not-for-profit organisation founded by British East Asians working in Theatre and across the Screen industry seeking to humanise British East Asians, increase the visibility of British East Asians on stage and screen, and advocate for the use of the term British East Asian.
Chi’s #FeministFave is White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo. The New York Times best-selling book exploring the counterproductive reactions white people have when their assumptions about race are challenged, and how these reactions maintain racial inequality.
Recommendations…
The Ridiculous Darkness The Gate Theatre until Mar 23
Us Against Whatever Hull Truck Mar 27 – Apr 3
Homegrown Festival: Occupy Battersea Arts Centre Mar 19 – Apr 12
The Phlebotomist Hampstead Theatre Mar 19 – Apr 20
Pah-La The Royal Court Apr 3 – 27
Going Through The Bush Mar 28 – Apr 27
Small Island National Theatre Apr 17 – Aug 10
Waitress Adelphi Theatre until Oct 2019
Episode Twenty-Two
Sex Sex Men Men with Thrustin’ Limbersnake
Lauren Steele is a drag king, burlesque performer and activist. She is a founding member of Pecs drag king collective, and performs as Thrustin’ Limbersnake.
Pecs latest show SEX SEX MEN MEN is on at The Yard until March 16. Watch the iconic trailer for the show now.
Lauren’s #FeministFave is The LOL Word comedy, a collective made up of queer womxn and non-binary comics. They host regular nights at The Albany and have been performing a show at VAULT Festival with a ‘prom night’ theme.
Beth’s #FeministFave is Generation Z, especially the teenagers taking part in the School Strike for Climate.
Pippa’s #FeministFave is Jeanette Winterson’s book Written on the Body.
Be in our audience: Bechdel Theatre Podcast is recording LIVE at VAULT Festival on Sunday March 10 at 16:45.
More recommendations…
Becoming– Stratford Circus Arts Centre March 6 – 9
I’m A Phoenix, Bitch – Battersea Arts Centre until March 9
The Paper Man – Soho Theatre until March 9
Boots – The Bunker until March 16
And The Rest Of Me Floats – The Bush until March 16
The Trick – The Bush until March 23
Inside Bitch – The Royal Court until March 23
Richard II – The Globe until April 21
Emilia – Vaudeville Theatre March 8 – June 15
A Hundred Words For Snow – Trafalgar Studios March 5 – 30
96 Festival – Clapham Omnibus until March 31
Smack That (A Conversation) – Ovalhouse until March 16 and touring to locations including Essex, London, Portsmouth, Oxford, Salford, Newcastle, and Salisbury throughout 2019.
Episode Twenty-One
Trailblazing Theatre Activists with Dr Naomi Paxton
Dr Naomi Paxton is a performer and feminist theatre historian who wrote her PhD on the work of the Actresses’ Franchise League. She has published two books of Suffrage plays with Methuen Drama, and is currently Knowledge Exchange Fellow at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
Naomi is the curator of Dramatic Progress, an exhibition at the National Theatre, which runs until January 26.
Naomi also performs at comedy, cabaret and variety nights as her character Ada Campe.
Naomi’s #feministfaves were Vik Groskop’s How to Own the Room, Cicely Hamilton’s Marriage as a Trade Elizabeth Robin’s Way Stations.
Pippa’s #feministfave was the artist Claude Cahun.
Beth’s #feministfave was the She’s All Fat podcast.
Shows to see at VAULT Festival…
Inside Voices (Jan 23 – 27)
Juniper and Jules (Jan 23 – 27)
Dangerous Lenses (Jan 23 – 27)
Lola (Jan 23 – 27)
17 (Jan 23 – 27)
Salaam (Jan 30 – Feb 3)
Fatty Fat Fat (Jan 30 – Feb 3)
Hear Me Howl (Jan 30 – Feb 3)
Succubus (Feb 1)
The LOL Word (Jan 25, Feb 15, Mar 15)
Pecs: King for a Night (Feb 2)
Elf Lyons: Love Songs To Guinea Pigs (Feb 13 -15)
Shotgun Carousel: Eat Your Heart Out (Feb 16)
Smoke Weed Eat Pussy Every Day (Feb 22-23)
i will still be whole (when you rip me in half) (Feb 27 – 28)
Woman! Pilot! Pirate? (Feb 27 – Mar 3)
Galvanise (Feb 27 – Mar 3)
Brazilian Wax XXL (Mar 2)
The Family Jewels (Mar 8)
Can I Touch Your Hair? (Mar 8 – 9)
10 (Mar 13 – 17)
Even more recommendations for 2019, including touring shows, and productions running throughout the year, can be found on our New Year Blog.
Episode Twenty
Taking Up Space with Rubyyy Jones
Rubyyy Jones is is a Canadian-born London-based burlesque dancer, cabaret performer and theatre-maker best known as the Queen of Queerlesque. You can find out more about her upcoming appearances, and how to get involved with her courses and classes on her Facebook and Instagram pages.
Rubyyy is currently performing as part of an ensemble cast of 6 in Hole at The Royal Court. Hole is written by Ellie Kendrick, and directed by (previous podcast guests) Helen and Abi from RashDash. It’s on until January 12th.
Rubyy’s #FeministFave is the Anti Diet Riot Club which hosts events and meet-ups, in London and the UK, that connect people struggling with diet-cycling, poor body image, and disordered eating. They spread the message of body acceptance, radical self-love and fatpositivity.
Beth’s #FeministFave this month is Afua Hirsch’s book Brit(ish).
Pippa’s #FeministFave is Ariana Grande.
More recommendations…
Divine Proportions The Vaults until Jan 12
The Convert Young Vic until Jan 26
Nine Night Trafalgar Studios 1 Dec – 23 Feb
Head-Rot Holiday The Hope until Dec 22
Robin Hood The Watermill Theatre Newbury until Jan 5
Sleeping Beauty Theatre Royal Stratford East until Jan 12
Aladdin Hackney Empire until Jan 6
Rudolf MAC Birmingham Until December 31
Snow White and the Happy Ever After Beauty Salon Ovalhouse until Dec 30 & Theatre Royal Plymouth Jan 22 – 26
Episode Nineteen
VAGINA with Isley Lynn
Isley Lynn is an American-born, London-based playwright and poet. Her play Skin A Cat opened at VAULT Festival in 2016, where it won Pick of the Year, and was nominated for four Off West End Awards for its transfer as inaugural production at The Bunker.
Skin A Cat’s upcoming tour dates are The Other Room Cardiff Oct 8 – 13, Stephen Joseph Theatre Scarborough Oct 19-20, and Isley’s adaptation of The War Of The Worlds (created in collaboration with Rhum and Clay) is at New Diorama London January 8-9.
Isley’s #FeministFave is the singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco.
More recommendations…
Kingdom Camden People’s Theatre Oct 9 – 11
Come As You Are Festival (Derby, Peterborough, Exeter, and Poole) until Dec 1
Divine Proportions The Vaults until Jan 12
Medusa Nuffield Theatre Southampton Oct 11 – 13
I’m a Phoenix Bitch Battersea Arts Centre Oct 3 – 20
Skate Hard Turn Left Battersea Arts Centre Oct 9 – 13
Britney Battersea Arts Centre Oct 16 – 17
Silence Mercury Theatre Colchester Oct 12 – 20
Burgerz Hackney Showroom Oct 23 – Nov 3
White Teeth Kiln Oct 26 – Dec 22
Blacktress season Tristan Bates Theatre Oct 4 – Dec 22
It’s True, It’s True, It’s True New Diorama Theatre Oct 16 – Nov 10.
Pickle Jar Soho Theatre Oct 23 – Nov 10
Ear For Eye Royal Court Oct 25 – Nov 24
Still No Idea Royal Court Oct 31 – Nov 17
Episode Eighteen
#RepresentAsian with Katie Leung and Kae Alexander
Katie Leung began her career playing Cho Chang in the Harry Potter films, and has had screen and stage roles in Run on Channel 4, One Child on BBC, The World Of Extreme Happiness at The National Theatre, and Snow in Midsummer at The RSC.
Kae Alexander was most recently seen on stage in The Great Wave at The National Theatre. Her screen acting has included roles in Collateral, Fleabag, Game of Thrones, Bad Education and Ready Player One.
Katie and Kae are currently starring in the drama series Strangers which airs on Monday nights at 9pm on ITV.
Katie’s #FeministFave is the My Body Back Project, which runs specialist services, including a cervical screening clinics in London and Glasgow designed especially for women who have experienced sexual violence so they feel safe, relaxed, and their individual needs are met.
Kae’s #FeministFave and hero is her Mum, Kim.
More recommendations…
Hear Me Howl Old Red Lion until Sept 29
Dance Nation Almeida until Oct 6
Queen Margaret Royal Exchange Manchester until Oct 6
Six The Arts Theatre until Oct 14
Skin A Cat is on tour until Oct 20
The Sweet Science of Bruising at Southwark Playhouse Oct 3 – 27
Twelfth Night Young Vic 2 Oct – Nov 17
Heathers Theatre Royal Haymarket until Nov 24
Everything I Am Camden People’s Theatre 2-5 Oct Natasha Simone.
Episode Seventeen
Love Songs in Edinburgh with Alissa Anne Jeun Yi
Alissa Anne Jeun Yi has written and is performing in Love Songs at Edinburgh Festival Fringe (Underbelly Cowgate, 14:40, everyday until August 26th)
Alissa’s #FeministFave shows at Edinburgh Fringe:
WHITE Pleasance Courtyard 11:30
WEIRD Pleasance Courtyard 13:45
Awakening Underbelly Bristo Square 14:35
Lost In Thought Underbelly Cowgate 18:40
More shows we recommended…
Sparks Pleasance Courtyard 11:30
Sticks & Stones, and Island Town Summerhall (times & dates vary)
Sarah Keyworth Pleasance Courtyard 17:30
Evelyn Mok Pleasance Courtyard 18:00
Yana Alana Assembly Checkpoint 20:00
Episode Sixteen
Fuck You Pay Me in Edinburgh with Joana Nastari
Joana’s #FeministFave shows at Edinburgh Fringe:
Illicit Thrill The Voodoo Rooms 23:35
(even) HOTTER Bedlam 21:30
Miss Venezuela Just The Tonic at The Mash House 22:10
More shows we recommended…
Baby Daddy Assembly Rooms 18:20 (until August 13)
Dangerous Giant Animals Underbelly Cowgate 12:00
Zoo Assembly George Square 11:00
Dominoes Assembly George Square 12:00
For Londoners not in Edinburgh:
Emilia at The Globe Aug 10 – Sept 1
Episode Fifteen
Fun Home and Hive City Legacy
Lisa Fa’alafi and Yami ‘Rowdy’ Lofvenberg are the Director and Assistant Director of Hive City Legacy: a riotous new show by a league of extraordinary Femmes Of Colour, created in association with legendary Australian performance collective Hot Brown Honey.
Hive City Legacy is at The Roundhouse until July 21, and Hot Brown Honey are performing their own show at London’s Southbank Centre on July 24 – 28 and throughout August at Edinburgh Fringe.
Lisa’s #FeministFave was Cocoa Butter Club, a queer cabaret collective of colour, who hold regular showcases at Her Upstairs, and are performing a show at Roundhouse after Hive City Legacy on July 20th.
Yami’s #FeministFave was OSHUN, an independent Hip-Hop / Soul duo and the sonic manifestation of Afrofuturism. Their debut studio album, bittersweet vol 1, is out now.
Cherrelle Skeete is currently playing Joan in Fun Home at the Young Vic – the musical adaptation of Alison Bechdel’s graphic memoir of the same name. Cherrelle previously played Char in Ella Road’s The Phlebotomist at Hampstead Theatre, and originated the role of Rose Granger-Weasley in Harry Potter and The Cursed Child in the West End.
Cherrelle is a founder of Blacktress UK, an organisation which supports Black Womxn actors in the UK through regular meet ups, workshops and events. You can keep up with Blacktress on Instagram (Black Womxn only), Twitter and Facebook.
Cherrelle’s #FeministFaves were: Poet and activist Staceyann Chin; the writing of Audre Lorde (in particular Sister Outsider and The Cancer Journals); Sista! an anthology of writing about Same Gender Loving Black Women; and All About Love: New Visions by bell hooks.
All of our Edinburgh Festival Fringe show recommendations for August are listed on our pre-Edinburgh blog post.
Episode Fourteen
Three Sisters with RashDash
RashDash Theatre Company are Abbi Greenland, Becky Wilkie and Helen Goalen. They have been making shows together since 2009, and have been called “The punk princesses of late night theatre”. Their new show Three Sisters (after Chekhov) is at The Yard London until June 9 and then at Tobacco Factor Bristol June 12 – 16
Helen’s #FeministFave was playwright and RashDash collaborator Alice Birch.
Becky’s #FeministFave was singer/songwriter Regina Spektor.
Abbi’s #FeministFave was her follow members of RashDash (see above!).
Beth and Pippa’s #FeministFaves this month were Reni Eddo-Lodge’s podcast About Race, and the KOC (Kings of Colour) Initiative, founded by drag king Zayn Phallic.
More recommendations…
The Yellow Wallpaper Clapham Omnibus 5 – 24 June.
Leave Taking Bush Theatre until June 30.
Spun Arcola Theatre 27 June–28 July.
As You Like It & Hamlet at Shakespeare’s Globe until August 26.
Fun Home The Young Vic June 18 – Sept 1.
Episode Thirteen
Chinese Dreams & Different Women with Jennifer Tang & Ariane Barnes
Episode Twelve
Journalism, Journeys, and Good Girl with Lisa Francesca Nand
Chisholm 72 Barbican Cinema 18 Apr.
Nine Night National Theatre 21 April to 26 May.
Mountains: Dreams of Lily Kwok UK tour until 2 June.
Our Country’s Good Touring to Leeds, London, Sheffield and Birmingham, until 2 June.
Episode Eleven
#BlackGirlMagic with Giselle Gant
MORE INFO ABOUT EPISODE Eleven…
Giselle Gant is an Emmy-winning actor, theatre-maker, and presenter (known for her ‘Black To Life‘ series on BET Her). Giselle was born and raised in Manhatten.
Nathalie Adlam is Artistic Director of theatre company Les Foules, who won the VAULT Festival Origins Award for Outstanding New Work in 2015.
Giselle and Nathalie are the creators of The Year of The Rooster Monk, running at VAULT Festival March 7 – 11.
Giselle’s #FeministFave is Shirley Chisholm, who was the United States first black congresswoman and the first woman to run for President in 1972. She also gave an honourable mention to Delta Sigma Theta a sorority founded by African American women, which is still active across the world.
More recommendations…
So Many Reasons Ovalhouse Mar 6 – 10 Use the code BECHDEL12 to book for our special International Women’s Day celebration on March 8th for a discounted ticket and free espresso martini!
Good Girl Trafalgar Studios throughout March.
Leftover Women Cockpit Theatre 11 Mar
Yvette WOW Festival Southbank Centre 10 & 11 Mar | UK Tour 16 April to 23 May
Electra The Bunker 27 Feb – 24 Mar
The Great Wave National Theatre 10 March to 14 April
Frankenstein The Space until March 10
Juniper and Jules Theatre503 Mar 18 – 19
Dollywould Soho Theatre Mar 19 – Apr 14
Tina The Musical Aldwych Theatre from March 21st
The Party Somewhere Else Nottingham Playhouse Mar 20 – 24
Strike A Light Festival Gloucester City 21 – 27 Mar
Boots VAULT Mar 7 – 11
Timothy VAULT Mar 14 – 18
Things That Do Not Count VAULT Mar 14 – 18
Episode Ten
Outsourcing and surrogacy in There or Here with Rakhee Thakrar
MORE INFO ABOUT EPISODE TEN…
Rakhee Thakrar is best known for her long-running role on Eastenders playing Shabnam Masood. Her theatre credits include: Astronauts Of Hartlepool (Vaults Festival); Lalita’s Big Fat Asian Wedding (Curve Leicester); Pyaar Hai (Rich Mix); Free Booze (Edinburgh Fringe).
Rakhee is currently starring in There or Here at the Park Theatre until Feb 17. Bechdel Theatre are hosting a post-show after the evening performance of There or Here on Thu Feb 1st.
Rakhee’s #FeministFaves are actress Denise Gough, and Amy Agnew and Caroline Dollman of Global Citizen: a social action platform for a global generation that wants to solve the world’s biggest challenges.
Our #FeministFaves:
Reni Eddo-Lodge’s book Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race.
Mary Beard’s book Women in Power.
Episode Nine
MORE INFO ABOUT EPISODE NINE…
More recommendations…
& The Andrea Project Sat 20 Jan
Episode Eight
Feminist Witches with Lauren Barri Holstein and Michelle Barwood
More info about Episode Eight…
The Famous Lauren Barri Holstein also known as ‘The Famous,’ is a New York-raised, London-based feminist performance maker who holds a PhD on ‘The Agency of the Displayed Female Body: The Political Potential of Negative Affects in Contemporary Feminism and Performance’.
Lauren’s #FeministFaves are Sara Ahmed‘s book ‘The Promise of Happiness, Lauren Berlant, Nao Bustamante, Ann Liv Young, Julia Bardsley, Kira O’Reilly, Maria La Ribot, Lois Weaver and Split Britches.
Michelle Barwood is an actor, writer, shit feminist, bad vegan, witch. Michelle watched Queens of Sheba, produced by Nouveau Riche at Camden People’s Theatre, and In Event of Moone Disaster at Theatre503.
Michelle‘s #FeministFave is Eve Ensler’s One Billion Rising project.
More recommendations…
Jubilee at Manchester Royal Exchange until Nov 18 & Lyric Hammersmith in Feb.
Damsel Develops The Bunker Nov 13 – 19.
The Butch Monologues Soho Theatre Nov 21 – 24th
We Are The Lions, Mr Manager! TARA Theatre Nov 21 – 25 and touring until May.
Pecs Soho Theatre 4 – 9 December
Bad Roads Royal Court Wed 15 Nov – Sat 23 Dec
Episode Seven
Whitewashing in ‘Angel’ at the Arcola. With Tutku Barbaros.
More info about Episode Seven…
More recommendations…
A Dangerous Woman & Elsa at Soho Theatre Nov 4.
Wings at the Young Vic until Nov 4.
Portrait by Racheal Ofori UK Tour Nov 1 – 12.
Apologia at Trafalgar Studios until Nov 18.
Notorious created and performed by The Famous Lauren Barri Holstein UK tour Oct 20 – Nov 23.
White by Koko Brown at Ovalhouse Nov 15 – 25.
No Place Like Hope at The Old Red Lion Nov 7 – 26.
Muvvahood by Libby Liburd London Tour 3 Nov to 1 Dec.
Contractions produced by Deafinitely Theatre at New Diorama Nov 1 – 29.
Episode Six
Come As You Are festival with Lucy J Skilbeck, Lucy Parkinson, and Amie Taylor.
More info about Episode Six…
Episode Five
Live from Edinburgh! With Tanya Loretta Dee, Charly Clive, Ellen Robertson, and Rebecca Humphries.
More info about Episode Five…
Tanya Loretta Dee is starring in Offside by Sabrina Mahfouz and Hollie McNish @ Pleasance Courtyard 15:40.
Tanya’s #FeministFave is The Color Purple, originally a book by Alice Walker, adapted into a film in 1985 starring Whoopi Goldberg, and a Broadway musical, which is touring the US later this year.
Comedy duo ‘Britney’, aka Charly Clive and Ellen Robertson, are starring in Britney in: John @ Bedlam Theatre 18:30
Rebecca Humphries is the writer of Prom Kween @ Underbelly Cowgate 20:35
For more Fringe tips, our blog has a long list of Edinburgh shows we recommend seeing, and a shorter but more detailed list of our Fringe #FeministFaves.
If you’re not in Edinburgh (or are listening in the future…) never fear! The majority of the shows that do well at the Fringe will tour across the country, so make sure you get them on your radar ahead of their inevitable future success.
This episode was recorded far from home (and our usual recording equipment) so please forgive the variable sound quality.
Thanks to Funny Women, The Gilded Balloon and Apex Hotel for our locations.
Episode Four
Interview with Yolanda Mercy and Jade Lewis: writer/performer and director of ‘Quarter Life Crisis’, plus our recommendations for Underbelly Cowgate at Edinburgh Fringe, and shows opening in London and touring this summer.
More info about Episode Four…
Yolanda Mercy is a London based Actor and Playwright. She trained at the renowned Brit school, Laban and Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Yolanda is a winner of the Rich Mix Small Story Big City Award and Associate Artist at OvalHouse Theatre.
Jade Lewis is a director who has worked at Southwark Playhouse, The Bush Theatre and The Royal Court (where she assisted debbie tucker green). Jade is a Creative Associate at The Gate Theatre and Emerging Artist at Ovalhouse Theatre, and also runs workshops in schools and youth groups.
Yolanda’s #FeministFaves: The Secret book by Rhonda Byrne, and Youtuber Lilly Singh.
Jade’s #FeministFaves: Singer/songwriter Nina Simone and sprinter Shelley-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
The Scar Test by Hannah Khalil – The Place Theatre, Bedford June 21st, The Bohemian Balcony Swindon June 26-27th, and Soho Theatre July 5-22nd.
Anatomy of a Suicide at the Royal Court June 3 – July 8th Alice Birch and Katie Mitchell collaborate again after last year’s production of Ophelia’s Zimmer, with a play about 3 generations of women.
Rotterdam at The Arts Theatre June 21 – July 15th
The Globe’s Summer of Love, including Emma Rice’s Twelfth Night, until August 5th
Herstory Feminist Theatre Festival at Balham N16, including Lekhani Chirwa peforming ‘Can I Touch Your Hair?’ June 18-19th
Bechdel Testing Life at The Bunker. Four short plays based on real conversations by Isley Lynn, Guleraana Mir, Rabiah Hussain and Lizzie Milton. July 22-23rd.
Underbelly Cowgate at Edinburgh Fringe recommendations…
Quarter Life Crisis 14:40
Joan (August 21-27th) 19:20
Prom Kween 20:35
Episode Three
#BringAFeministFriend special on representations of Muslim girls, with Firdos Ali and Shaneela Rowah Al-Qamar talking about An Evening to Launch Homegrown and The Diary of A Hounslow Girl.
More info about Episode Three..
Firdos Ali is a playwright, currently writing a musical which will be previewed at Theatre Royal Stratford East. Firdos is co-curator of the Bunker Without Borders, and has 2 pieces of work being staged at the Bunker on April 4th and 8th.
Shaneela Rowah Al-Qamar is a business woman, founder of perfume company The Scented Souq and writer of several books on Arabian and Islamic history.
Firdos’ #FeministFaves: Deeya Khan of sister-hood.com, Edna Adan who founded a hospital for women and children in Somaliland, and anti-FGM campaigner Leyla Hussein.
Shaneela’s #FeministFave: Journalist Mona Eltahawy.
We watched…
The Inconvenient Muslim – An Evening to Launch Homegrown at Conway Hall. Some of the publicity around the cancellation of the National Youth Theatre’s production: The Guardian, Telegraph, Channel 4 and BBC.
Diary of a Hounslow Girl by Ambreen Razia at the Bernie Grant Arts Centre. Featuring Nyla Levy, directed by Sophie Moniram.
HOT TOP –The Bernie Grant Arts Centre is dedicated to supporting culturally diverse artists, including women writers and directors, and they are actively looking for theatre folks who need rehearsal and work space in north London. If you’re an independent theatre practitioner, you can email them: programme@berniegrantcentre.co.uk with a bit about your work and the type of space you’re looking for.
We also saw a reading of Coconut by Guleraana Mir, work in progress to look out for, which we’ll be talking about more in the future.
Episode Two
Live from VAULT Festival with Bella Heesom, Lekhani Chirwa and Georgina Bobb, discussing Dreamgirls in the West End and Balancing Acts, Fran and Leni, and Britney at VAULT. Plus our audience, who told us their #FeministFaves. Listen to the end for some top watching, listening and reading recommendations!
More info about in Episode Two…
All upcoming shows mentioned, and more are listed in the 2017 New Year blog post.
Bella Heesom‘s show My World Has Exploded A Little Bit. Bella an Associate Artist at Ovalhouse, where she’s making a new show about female sexuality with director Donnacadh O’Briain.
Georgina Bobb is a Freelance TV Production Coordinator and founded TVJobsUK.com in 2014, offering masterclasses and coaching to people who want to work in TV. Georgina speaks publicly about living with bipolar to combat the stigma around mental health conditions and illnesses.
Lekhani Chirwa is an actor who trained at Identity Drama School. She is one of three hosts of The Creative Juice podcast. Lekhani wrote and performs in a monologue ‘Can I Touch Your Hair?‘.
#FeministFaves mentioned in Ep 2…
Bella Heesom’s #FeministFaves: Holly Morgan’s Seven Crazy Bitches, performance artist Bryony Kimmings, writer Caitlin Moran, and musician and poet Kate Tempest.
Being Black, Going Crazy BBC Three Documentary available on iPlayer.
Made of Human podcast with Sofie Hagen.
Melanin Millenials podcast hosted by Imrie Morgan and Satia Sa Dias.
50:50 Parliament campaign for at least 50% women in parliament.
We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, based on her 2013 TED Talk.
Nisa: The Life and Words of a !Kung Woman by Marjorie Shostak.
Margaret Atwood’s Handmaid’s Tale novel and upcoming TV series on Hulu.
Warsan Shire‘s poetry and book, Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth.
Chewing Gum on Channel 4 based on the play Chewing Gum Dreams by Michaela Coel.
Running Like A Girl by Alexandra Heminsley.
2 Dope Queens podcast and Phoebe Robinson’s book You Can’t Touch My Hair.
Episode One
Bechdel Testing Panto, Emma Rice’s departure from The Globe, Interview with Jade Anouka, #BringAFeministFriend Competition, Oil at The Almieda and looking forward to 2017.
More info about Episode One…
Jade Anouka’s poetry book Eggs On Toast, and videos.
I Call Myself A Feminist book, including ‘Hotspur: Superwoman’ by Jade Anouka.
Profile videos of each of the Donmar Trilogy’s prisoner characters.
Clean Break Theatre Company.
Brutus and Other Heroines by Harriet Walter – WIN a copy of this book by sharing your #BringAFeministFriend story for us to include in a future podcast episode! Email bechdeltheatre@gmail.com with a text or audio account of your experience of bringing a non-theatrical feminist to see a stage show.
Jade Anouka’s #FeministFaves: poet Laura Dockrill, Radio DJ Gemma Cairney, poet and playwright Sabrina Mahfouz.
Emma Rice’s departure from The Globe.
You Me And The Distance Between Us by Ellen Muriel.
