The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
A look at this year’s Dundee Women’s Festival.
Dundee Women’s Festival 2021 may be taking place online this year but, as Caroline Lindsay discovers, it still offers the same diverse range of events...
D undee Women’s Festival (DWF) is an annual event celebrating International Women’s Day on March 8, recognising women’s rights, their qualities and their achievements.
Twenty-seven countries have a public holiday but Dundee is doing even better with a two-week festival running from March 5-14.
“The theme for the Dundee Women’s Festival 2021 The Power of Women, was chosen some months ago when we were living in much more certain times,” explains Prue Watson, DWF chairperson.
“We try to theme each year’s festival – something which relates to international or national events. Last year’s, for example, was Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters so we had Women Making Waves.
“2019 was celebrating minority languages, hence Hear Women’s Voices, while 2018 marked the centenary of Women’s Suffrage, A Vote for the Future, and in 2017 we joined the push to encourage girls to take up Stem subjects and consider non-traditional careers under the title of Herstory and Heritage,” Prue continues.
“This last topic led to Dundee University merging their Women’s Science Festival with
Dundee Women’s Festival and a future of joint working including a three-year sponsorship deal (2020-2022) through the Welcome Foundation.”
Despite the present difficult circumstances the organisers were determined that the 2021 DWF should go on. This year’s festival will be very different, however, as it will largely take place online.
“Thanks to the ingenuity and co-operation of all our partners we are able to offer an amazing programme of events,” says Prue.
Moreover, it transpires that the chosen theme could not have been more appropriate.
“Women have been called upon to take on extra responsibilities during lockdown.
“The call-out to get involved has raised a powerful and positive response from the women of Dundee and Angus – and a few men too!”
The events – most are open to all but some are women only – all celebrate the Power of Women and are all centred on March 8 2021, 100 years since the first celebration of International Women’s Day.
Readily accessible wherever people live – locally, in Scotland, elsewhere in the UK and across the world – the programme offers a diverse list of free events including (to name but a few) Angela Gilchrist, editor of The People’s Friend, in conversation with historian
Charlotte Lauder, discussing the fascinating story of Jessie M King, Dundee’s first professional female journalist; Overcoming Challenges: Women Entrepreneurs in Nablus Palestine – a talk by Anan Atteereh, deputy governor of Nablus, followed by a Q&A discussion; Herbology and Health: Lady Mantle to Foxglove; Women and the Climate Crisis; Empowering Women at Work and Beyond, The Second Hand Wardrobe: How to Thrift Like a Pro; Menopause Cafes; An Introduction to Nordic Walking; and Motherhood and the Visual Arts.
And if you’re a fan of TV crime drama, Traces, which is set in Dundee, the Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science are hosting a discussion between two of their staff, Val Mcdermid and Amelia Bullmore, about the background of the series (details on Eventbrite).
“The festival is important because it brings women together and even now it’s a safe place to discuss subjects like the menopause, stress, abuse, work problems, topics that might be difficult to discuss elsewhere,” says Prue.
“Dundee has always been a city with a history of strong women and we believe that joining together to celebrate the Power of Women is a positive way to address the isolation and uncertainty which many of us are feeling right now.
“And while an online virtual festival is a first for us, it’s a challenge but also an opportunity to reach out a wider audience – not only throughout Scotland and the UK, but potentially worldwide. That’s the Power of Women!”
Following two series of the hit show, The Circle is set to return to our screens as part of a six-part special. This time, however, there’s a twist – celebrities.
Presented by The Voice and Big Brother host Emma Willis, The Celebrity Circle will see 12 of the nation’s best-loved stars take up residence in the now-famous apartment block in aid of Stand Up To Cancer.
Battling it out to be crowned the most popular player (all while raising money for charity), the contestants will be split into two camps – those staying true to their identity and those using a catfish profile (and plenty of guile) to play an entirely different celebrity.
Filmed non-stop over a single week, the special will also see a number of celebrities move in together in a bid to play one character, all before scoring their fellow contestants and ultimately ejecting the least popular from The Circle.
We take a look at some of the stars:
Baga Chipz
Best known for appearing in the first series of Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK, Baga Chipz, 31, aims to catfish fellow celebrities into thinking she’s outspoken queen of clean Kim Woodburn.
“I’ve got a leg up because we are very, very good friends, and I’ve been on the phone to her. I haven’t got to eat creepy crawlies or I haven’t got to do intense fitness workouts. So I was like, basically I’ll be lounging about trying to catfish people.”
Denise van Outen
Star of stage and screen, Denise Van Outen, 46, is shunning a catfish profile in favour of entering The Celebrity Circle as herself.
“I’m just looking forward to having a nice week on my own. It’s going to be like a holiday for me! I’m not doing it to prove anything, I just think it’s really fun.”
Rickie Haywood-williams and Melvin Odoom
Radio DJS Rickie Haywood-williams, 40, and Melvin Odoom, 40, are probably best known for their joint stint as KISS FM presenters. Now, the duo are teaming up in an attempt to convince fellow contestants they’re international musician will.i.am.
“When I was growing up, I used to listen to the Black Eyed Peas. I’m talking about the real deal, hip hop, Black Eyed Peas. People just think he’s a musician, or people just think he’s like that guy on The Voice. There’s stuff that people don’t know about him,” says Odoom.
Charlotte Crosby
Geordie Shore star Charlotte Crosby, 30, is entering The Celebrity Circle as none other than Mysterious Girl hit-maker Peter Andre.
“I’ve met Peter Andre a couple of times. I mean, we’re not friends, but who doesn’t like Peter Andre? He won Dad of the Year about 75 years in a row. How can you not like Dad of the Year?”
Lady Leshurr
British rapper Lady Leshurr, 32, will go undercover as fellow rapper Big Narstie. Despite their size difference, Leshurr believes she has what it takes to fool her fellow contestants.
“I have got this energy 24/7. I’m going to incorporate Big Narstie’s energy to align with mine because we’re very similar.”
Duncan James
Former Blue boyband member Duncan James, 42, is playing himself. That, however, doesn’t stop the singer from pondering other possibilities. “It’s just something to escape from the lockdown. I’ve been with my mum the whole time…”
Pete Wicks and Sam Thompson
Self-confessed best mates, The Only Way Is Essex star Pete Wicks, 32, and Made in Chelsea’s Sam Thompson, 27, are teaming up to catfish fellow contestants into thinking they’re Countdown mathematician Rachel Riley.
“We tried to think of someone that is as different as you could get from us. I mean, firstly, she’s intelligent, we’re not. She’s a woman, we’re not. She just seems like a really nice person, so that’s going to be quite difficult,” says Wicks.
Kaye Adams and Nadia Sawalha
Loose Women presenters Kaye Adams, 58, and Nadia Sawalha, 56, are serving up a double helping of entertainment, as they enter The Celebrity Circle under the guise of The Only Way Is Essex icon Gemma Collins.
“The thing about playing the GC is, she’s a very complex character. I think even people that hate her, love her. Even when she behaves outrageously, it’s funny. How she gets away with the diva-esque persona, I’ll never know. It’s going to be a challenge,” says Sawalha.
The Celebrity Circle for Stand Up To Cancer launches on Tuesday March 9 on Channel 4.