Perth puts women in festival spotlight
The stage is set for this year’s Women of the World (Wow) festival in Perth.
Issues affecting today’s women, including mental wellbeing, body image and surveillance, will be the focus of the two-day festival later this month.
Wow calls itself the largest women’s festival in the world, celebrating and recognising the achievements of women and girls and taking a frank look at factors stopping them from achieving their potential.
Perth hosted its first events last year and Wow returns on Saturday and Sunday, September 29 and 30, at Perth Theatre and Perth Concert Hall, focusing on topics including social and economic injustice, the menopause and women’s relationship with alcohol.
A keynote session will be by Jude Kelly OBE, who launched the Wow movement in 2011.
During her speech she will say a gender-equal world is a better place for everyone.
She said: “This will be Wow’s 50th festival and we’re proud to celebrate this with the people of Perthshire and beyond.
“Has there ever been a more exciting time of change for girls and women?
“There’s so much to celebrate and so much to improve and it needs everyone to be involved.
“Despite the gravity and seriousness of the issues Lou Brodie Fraser Band that hold women back, we aim to build a place of warmth, shared respect and fun.”
Highlights of the Perth event include the hit theatre drama ‘The Vagina Monologues’, an evening with Scottish singer-songwriter Horse Macdonald, and a packed programme that includes everything from dance to poetry, puppetry and comedy.
There will also be a range of workshops including speed mentoring sessions, a panel discussion of different approaches to leadership and tips on how to change a tyre.
The Perth programme was organised by Louise Brodie, who said: “There have been some significant shifts in the fight for gender equality in the year since we presented our first festival.
“Gender equality is no longer an urban-centric conversation. It is being discussed across Scotland and now, more than ever, we must push forward.
“Diversity and inclusivity stand front and centre at Wow.
“The festival aims to inspire debates as well as positive change. It is a call to action, not just of the head but of the heart also.”
Tickets for the festival, including two-day passes, can be bought from the Horsecross box office on 01738 621031.