This year at Theatre Village, we made an editorial decision before setting foot in Edinburgh – we were going to actively support women at the Fringe. That meant when it came to choosing which shows to see, our selections were influenced by stories written by, performed by, or centering on women’s experiences.
We chose to focus on women this year because, frankly, misogyny is still rampant – both in and outside the arts. Attitudes need to change, and one way to push that change forward is by making sure women’s voices are not just included but amplified. Theatre has the power to challenge prejudice, shift perspectives, and inspire empathy, and that starts with listening to stories told by women in their own words.
Our journey took us through an extraordinary range of voices, perspectives, and emotions. We saw Call Me Crazy, and Wenches – the latter diving deep into the history of women accused of witchcraft. Penelope Quadrangle And The Meaning Of Friendship gave us ethical decisions being made right before our eyes, while Forget-Me-Not explored two estranged friends reuniting – not unlike the nostalgic vibes of Disco 2000.
We were moved by Lindsay-Lucas Bartlett in Trust Me I’m From Essex, telling us her personal story, and Buen Camino, one woman’s pilgrimage both literal and emotional. Dear A gave us the experience of being a lone female foreigner in a strange land, and Ann Marie Cullen’s Remember That Time? delivered humour and honesty.
We also delved into vital conversations – racism within the South Asian community, powerfully presented by solo performer Kiren Virdee; the bright and joyful Lizzy Sunshine with Liz Coin; and Deep Heat, which saw us champion Erin McKinnie. Emily Knutsson’s Me and My Year of Casual Monasticism touched on domestic abuse, while Girlz tackled pressures and sexual assault in the music industry.
We witnessed Elis’s story of working in sex work in Bitter Baby, confidence radiating in Lady Macbeth Played Wing Defence, and vulnerability in Powerful by Kerry Leigh. And we’ve been proud to continue championing Rodney Black: Who Cares? as part of our festival coverage.
The Fringe is always a place where new voices and perspectives collide, and this year we leaned into amplifying those of women from all walks of life. We haven’t yet decided what theme Theatre Village will focus on next year – but we promise it will be chosen with the same passion. Keep an eye out.
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