A new theatre production, rehearsed readings from the company’s back catalogue and “exciting” community projects are part of Women & Theatre’s autumn 2023 season.
Celebrating 40 years of “making pioneering work about things that matter”, Women & Theatre’s season begins with Not the Last, a new play co-produced with Midlands Arts Centre. It is written by Susie Sillett and performed by Janice Connolly and Adaya Henry.
Marking 150 years of Cannon Hill Park, the play features two members of a fictional Birmingham-based historical society who attempt to find out more about the park's mysterious benefactor, Louisa Ryland. It will be staged at Midlands Arts Centre from Thursday 14 until Sunday 17 September.
Women & Theatre will then present Revival, a series of rehearsed readings of key productions from the company’s archive. Each performance will be followed by a discussion led by the company’s artistic director Janice Connolly. Revival will be at Birmingham Rep from Thursday 12 until Saturday 14 October.
There will also be a community tour of Touch Wood, Women & Theatre’s breast awareness show, and an event at the Heath Bookshop in Kings Heath, with readings from the company’s Women & Work publication.
Women & Theatre’s community performance club, co-created with older adults and carers from Druids Heath, will present a Festival of Stories at Druids Heath Library on Tuesday 31 October before developing a new community production for Christmas.
The season will be the company’s last with its current leadership team, artistic director Janice Connolly and executive director Jess Pearson.
Connolly said, “this season of work captures the many different elements of the company’s work, from new writing to community projects, working with many talented freelance theatre artists and community participants.”