EXETER’s Northcott Theatre is hosting a week-long celebration of women in the arts, Reclaim festival,from 9th to 14th June, at the city-centre Barnfield Theatre. The programme includes gatherings, workshops and performances, ranging from Bollywood dance to poetry performances and a daytime open mic gig for children.
It’s the second year of the festival, described by Northcott joint chief executives Kelly Johnson, Emma Stephenson, and Martin Berry as “a crucial platform for addressing the persistent underrepresentation of women in the arts, and embodies our commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for diverse talent to be seen, nurtured, and celebrated on our stages”
Festival director, theatre maker and producer Katie Villa says Reclaim celebrates women “but is open to everyone and we have so many fantastic events to choose from. Reclaim brings together the very best of local, regional and national talent.”
Highlights of the programme include Happenings, an evening of live art, spoken word, moving image and experimental music; Powerful Bodies dance workshop led by Maria Tarokh, artistic director of Exeter Northcott associate artists Company Scherazade; Reclaim the Mic, headlined by multi-award-winning poet Clare Ferguson-Walker; M/Others on the Mic, a daytime open mic gig where children are welcome to be themselves; and Manic, winner of FUSE International Best Solo Show.
Other communities opportunities are a Monday Mood Board Brunch, Drag King Workshop, Family Bollywood Dance Workshop, and Life Drawing for the Terrified.
Scratch Night showcases four work-in-progress performances from local artists selected through an open call-out, and Scratch Saturday features new work from theatre company Beyond Face and Devon-based performer Micha Colombo.
Reclaim festival will end with Dolly’s Film Club Presents – Mean Girls Prom Party, where themed cocktails, karaoke, fancy dress and crafting collide in a film screening like no other.
Pictured: A dancer at the Bollywood dance workshop; Yara El Sherbini leads the Lunchbox sessions (photo by Hugo Glendinning); and a craft kit at the Monday Mood Board Brunch.