Lucy Kerbel, the director of Tonic Theatre which works within the industry to promote greater gender equality, has a new book out.
Available now, published by Nick Hern Books, All Change Please—a Practical Guide for Achieving Gender Equality in Theatre looks at gender equality in the performing arts and why it is important.
Rufus Norris has written the foreword in which he says, “Lucy Kerbel’s work has become increasingly pivotal in helping the entire industry raise its game. This illuminating book answers the cynic, informs the impartial, converts the supporter into an activist and equips them all; not in a rallying cry of anger-fuelled idealism, but in a calm, pragmatic and clear-eyed way.”
Kerbel has also written 100 Great Plays for Women.
2017 sees the inaugural Tonic Awards, celebrating the achievements of women in the performing arts.
Of the awards, Kerbel said, “I am thrilled to announce our inaugural Tonic Awards which will celebrate the achievements of women who are changing the face of our theatre industry, and projects and productions that are redefining the role of women in the performing arts.
"We wanted to create the Tonic Awards so that the amazing contributions of women to theatre are being highlighted publicly—not just the doom and gloom stories about underrepresentation—and so that younger women in particular have visible role models to aspire to.”
BBC Radio 4’s Women’s Hour presenter Dame Jenni Murray will host the awards ceremony on 29 March.
Also new this year is a 12 month programme with the National Theatre on gender equality.
Other activities include the ongoing Tonic Celebrates series of events which next sees dramatist Moira Buffini, National Theatre’s director of producing and planning Sacha Milroy and designer Vicki Mortimer discuss their work and careers.