#WakingTheFeminists calls on the board of the National Theatre of Ireland to lead the way in establishing equality for women artists.

On Wednesday 28 October, the Abbey Theatre, Ireland’s National Theatre, launched its programme to mark the centenary of the 1916 Rising – an event that ultimately led to the founding of the Irish State. The Abbey Theatre and its members were actively involved in both the Rising itself and the debates around the founding of the Republic.

1 out of the 10 plays programmed in the 2016 programme are written by a woman – 3 out of 10 are directed by women. #WakingtheFeminists is a campaign by Irish artists to demand change of the systems that allow for such chronic under-representation of the work of women artists at the Abbey, and by extension in the Irish arts industry. There is consensus that the problem is bigger than any one organization or individual, and so rigorous discussion and action is needed to realize a new artistic landscape that reflects Irish society, and represents ‘all the children of the nation equally’.

THE NEXT PUBLIC MEETING for #WakingTheFeminists will take place on Thursday, November 12th at 1 pm at a Dublin city centre venue to be confirmed.

Women working in Irish theatre are invited to take part at a photo-call at 12.30 pm. 

Parents without childcare on the day are welcome to bring young children.

This is open event for people of all genders working in Irish theatre.

The event will be live-tweeted, and we’re looking at other ways of making it viewable from afar. We’re hoping to film/record it too.

Check out their website: http://wakingthefeminists.org