In the next 10 days, if you live in or around the Winnipeg area, you should try to check out a very special theatre festival – FEMFEST – which is running from September 25th to October 4th at the University of Winnipeg. Why is it special, you ask? Well, it's one of the few theatre festivals in Canada (if not the only) that exclusively features plays by female playwrights. It's a sad fact that while women make up over half the population of the world, studies have shown that women account for less than a third of professional theatre directors and playwrights across Canada. FemFest is all about showcasing the work of up and coming female theatre artists and bringing attention to the fact that women deserve more stage time. The reason they don't get it is a complex issue, and while it's a problem that's not going to be solved with one festival, FemFest is a great step forward for women-kind. Oh, and it's also hella entertaining.
I'm in the unique position that I've read all the plays that are playing at this year's festival. (I spent my summer working for Sarasvàti Productions, the theatre company behind FemFest, as their Marketing and Development Assistant.) As such, I can say with certainty that the plays are must-see. There's the little known story of Judy Holliday, a 40's film starlet who was known for playing dumb blondes, but was actually a genius. There is the heroic tale of Unruly, a women studies prof by day, superhero by night. There's the true story of the first female mortician in Canada, who lived and worked in The Pas. Motherhood, monogamy, eating disorders, sexuality, heartbreak, cancer, poverty and plastic surgery- they're all themes explored at this year's FemFest.
Support local theatre and female artists. Check out FemFest! For more info, visit www.sarasvati.ca
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