Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again. Interview: activism, feminism and the theatre
Girls can rule the world, according to the latest show to hit the Goose Nest at the Warwick Arts Centre. Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again., WUDS’s latest offering, follows an episodic narrative of 21st century feminism, considering ideas of sex, marriage and the body, encouraging its audience to consider what women need to say and where they stand in society.
“The play ends with a revolt and considers what would happen if we tried to end the patriarchy and how this would affect women,” explains director Hetty Melrose.
Revolt follows an episodic narrative of 21st century feminism, considering ideas of sex, marriage and the body
For the first time in Warwick history, Revolt hosts an all-female production team. “We’re so excited about this part of the play. There’s a massive lack of women in production and tech and we were keen to do something to try and rectify that,” says Hetty.
This fits into the content of the play, playing with the idea of labour. The play considers what happens when a woman adopts a stereotypically masculine role. Hetty expands: “We play with what masculine and feminine mean, and even question what is gender.”
The team is very conscious of the feminist values of the play they’re producing, and ensuring these ideals are reflected in their own methods. “This is a play about women and should be put together by women. It’s their story and their struggle,” states Eve Allin, the play’s producer.
For the first time in Warwick history, Revolt hosts an all-female production team
Putting on Revolt is something that director Hetty has been dreaming about for over a year. “I wanted to share my passion for the project – having a feminist cause and an all-female production team made it so easy for people to engage.”
The passion of the whole team is tangible. Hetty explains that “Each of our actors has been chosen because we felt like they needed to be in this play: they each have something that they need to say and this platform is the best way for them to say it.”
Hetty and Eve have discovered that there is a fine line between theatre and activism, and that Revolt treads it carefully. “The play is as much a statement about the theatre world as it is about the actual plot. We’re giving people an opportunity to voice what must be said but is so difficult to do so. Revolt itself is an activist statement: theatre and activism go hand in hand,” explains Eve.
There is a fine line between theatre and activism, and Revolt treads it carefully
Hetty and Eve are confident that it is the cast which makes this production special and allows the play to deliver such a powerful message. “Every actor we have is different, and brings a nuance to the performance,” enthused Hetty. “They each come from a different angle and their voices create a tapestry which builds up what the play is trying to say.”
“I’m so excited to give each of these actors a voice. It’s what I’ve found most moving about the whole process: it makes me feel like a facilitator for something really profound.”
“It’s easy to go to the theatre and see white middle class women making statements you believe in,” says Eve. “What makes this play interesting is that not every actor will look like you, sound like you, or say exactly what you’re thinking. This forces the audience to not take anything as assumed.”
I’m so excited to give each of these actors a voice. It’s what I’ve found most moving about the whole process
“We want this play to stay with the audience,” declares Hetty. “We want them to go away and think about how they feel about these issues, and how much women face every day, sometimes without even realising.”
With the recent centenary of women receiving the vote, there does not seem a better tribute or a more relevant time for this play to be put on. It’s a bold statement about the place of women, what it means to be a woman, and how to find the words to express the sentiments that mean so much but are so often left unsaid.
This play offers power to the people, and pays homage to the immense positive force of the female sex, proving beyond doubt that ours is a voice which deserves to be heard. Up the women.
Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again. plays at the Goose Nest from Thursday 8th – Saturday 10th March.
https://www.warwickartscentre.co.uk/whats-on/2018/wuds-present-revolt.-she-said.-revolt-again/
Comments (1)
Going to copy paste a Comment I left on Facebook:
Firstly, this is awesome and from this article, it sounds like the play is raising and addressing some interest issues. For the last 2 years, the Warwick Rep Theatre Company has been an all-female Exec team as well as most of our productions have been run by all female production teams, including our last full-length performance of A.I in wonderland. So instead of presenting this as a one-time and first-time occurrence let’s instead celebrate that this production is part of a growing trend on Warwick campus that celebrates and empowers female decision makers and artist. Everyone at the Rep agrees with Hetty “There’s a massive lack of women in production and tech” and this is a really big issue, not just at Warwick but in the entire creative industry. When women are left out of the decision-making process, it has a negative impact on female representation in staged productions and well as movies, and we want to commend them for taking this massive step in rectifying that 🙂 We are all excited to go see and support this play!
We all hope that productions like this continue to take the stage at Warwick and again, thank you to everyone involved in this production. It is important