Uninspired by the paucity of roles on offer for older women, I formed OW! Theatre Lab with 10 women in their 7th, 8th and 9th decade of life, to shed new light on a range of texts, regardless of gender, and to have fun in the process. Our work draws on our individual social and political engagements in the world and our know-how. We aim to make fierce productions that have heart and which speak to the present moment. Perhaps in the process, OW! Theatre Lab will help reframe the ways in which society perceives old women.
To begin, we adopt the 1970s environmental mandate: "Think Global, Act Local." Currently we are offering a stage reading of Nicolai Gogol's classic satire, "The Government Inspector" (Pay What You Can) as a fundraising endeavour to raise monies for women and children in Ukraine (UNWomen/Ukraine). We launch on March 23rd at Tressillian Theatre, Lewisham, after which we are available free of charge for appropriate fundraising, charitable, consciousness raising, celebratory and communal events: and yes, we tour!
OW! Theatre Lab would not be possible without the support and encouragement provided by David Workman and Southwark Playhouse. Especially thanks to Lisa Stubbs, Rose Bruford College and Lewisham College.
OW! Theatre Lab is Meena Agrawal, Roz Borley, Wendy Buckley, Gill Daniel, Jaki Grudzinskas, Hilary Hodsman, Karla Ptacek, Rose Taw, Mina Temple, Sasha Winslow, Jan Woods.