Arts > Comedy
Women Of The World Festival
Norwich Arts Centre
04/05/18
I’ve wanted to go to Southbank Centre’s Women of the World festival for years. A feminist festival of talks, debates, performances and workshops? Right up my street. Thus, I was thrilled to hear that the Southbank Centre had partnered with Norwich Arts Centre to bring WoW to Norwich.
I started the festival with DollyWould, a performance from theatrical double-act Sh!t Theatre. The duo (Louise Mothersole and Rebecca Biscuit) sold out the Arts Centre last Friday night - a testament to the rave reviews the show received. Mothersole and Biscuit explored their obsession with Dolly Parton, of all people. The pair were wonderfully silly and unpredictable, unpacking deep themes and an icon’s legacy via boob jokes and associative leaps. How on earth they pitched DollyWould to the Arts Council, I have no idea.
Also sold out - a live recording of The Guilty Feminist podcast. Comedian Deborah White bought her wildly popular podcast to OPEN on Saturday night, along with some hilarious guests. Rosie Jones, Alison Spittle and Helen Linehan all joined White to discuss the paradoxes of 21st century feminism. As well as impromptu humor, White and co. shared a sombre segment on Ireland’s outdated abortion laws, and prompted Norwich to raise awareness and support activists.
Like The Guilty Feminist and DollyWould, the main WoW festival was captivating and empowering. Take the first panel I attended - Sisters, Sistas and Transistors. Jude Kelly, founder of WoW, chaired the event, while Katy Jon Went, Katherine Deane, Marcia X and Maggie Wheeler, discussed gender equality and intersectionality. The panellists confidently raised complex theories, such as the possibility that all disabled people are innately ableist.
Next, I planned to go the Toxic Masculinity panel, but was turned down as the event was at capacity. The smaller rooms filled up a number of times during the festival, leaving a number of festival-goers disappointed. There was a definite imbalance between demand and available space, and insufficient signage meant people found it difficult to make it to events on time. Both issues that could be improved, but also both are to be expected of a first-time festival.
Along with panels, I enjoyed some of the festival’s alternative offerings. Dance fitness coach Anne Francis led a Dance Confidence workshop, comprising dance moves, power stances, relaxation, aerobics and martial arts. Francis welcomed dancers of all abilities, and ensured that the workshop was a joyful, no judgement zone. I also checked out the WoW mini-market. Stalls featured a variety of distinctive goods, from boob earrings to handmade cards to vibrant African clutch bags.
Jude Kelly rounded off Saturday’s daytime events with a truly inspiring talk. Kelly’s keynote speech touched on finances, climate change and domestic labour - oft-maligned aspects of feminist thought.
As Hannah Peaker (Chief of Staff at the Women’s Equality Party) pointed out, it was brilliant to see people showing up on a Sunday morning to debate feminism. Peaker sat on The Problem with Politics, a panel that deconstructed the importance of feminism in a male-dominated arena. I also gained a lot from a talk on Emotional Labour - the brilliant Stephanie Nimmo shared a personal story of grief and care, while fellow panelists and audience members opened up about their own caregiving experiences, while debating why such labour often falls on women. However, my favourite Sunday panel was the brilliantly named Eyes and Teeth Darling!. Maria Uzor, Amy Nomvula Smith, Nina Nannar, Helen Linehan and Vanessa Reed discussed what it means to be a woman working in the media and art industries. The panelists made sure to be constructive and encouraging, while also recognising the bleak reality of operating within the male-dominated industry.
My friend pointed out that there were three women of colour on the Eyes and Teeth Darling! panel - a rarity for UK panels! “Diversity and inclusivity stand front and centre at WoW Norwich” festival programmer, Rosie Arnold wrote in the WoW Norwich programme. Overall, WoW lived up to this claim. Speakers hailed from various minorities, while disabled panelist Katherine Deane praised WoW for being sufficiently wheelchair accessible. Also, festival goers got the chance to hear unique perspectives, like that of a young female politician (councillor Jess Bernard), period poverty activist (Lex Barber) and first female president of the National Black Police Association (Franstine Jones).
For me, the best thing about WoW was that the majority of speakers and attendees live among us in Norfolk. The festival has many keenly aware of the progressive, brave, talented, confident, relentless people fighting for women and non-binary rights, while living next door to us - a community gem to be proud of.