Showing @ Scottish Storytelling Centre, until Sat 10 Mar
The question of “what makes a woman?” is one which has had many different and competing answers; it has thus subjected women’s ambitions, beliefs and decisions to countless enquiries academically, politically and in fiction. Today, it appears that we can no longer, with any certainty, define what it means to be feminine in the 21st century. To mark International Women’s Day, Strange Theatre have devised Goddess, a play which poses many questions about femininity in both ancient and contemporary contexts.
Set between two worlds, director Caitlin Skinner firstly presents us with an early Scottish landscape, filled with matriarchal Goddesses who face changing tides. The other is a disconnected urban landscape which still holds many contradictions about female identity and it’s through both of these worlds that the birth of feminism can be viewed, all the while presenting the obstacles and expectations contemporary women face.
With a three strong cast, Skinner manages to attack various elements of feminine oppression alive within Britain today. From the footballer’s wife aspiration, to wolf-whistles from grotesque builders, she skilfully captures the frustrations felt by women, all the while highlighting the humour that comes with some of these situations. Through a series of simple movement pieces and mime, the stories of both ancient and contemporary Scotland are weaved together seamlessly, emphasising how far society has to come before feminine repression is eradicated for good. Throughout the play, the idea of a New Wave is something which mirrors the debate on whether we are currently in the Fourth Wave of feminism. In devising the play, Strange Theatre used blogs and social media sites to connect and share stories with other women, and with many academics arguing that ‘Fourth Wavers’ are the internet-savvy younger generation, it appears that this play is miles ahead in helping women understand and accept who they really are.
OTHER EVENTS:
ART EXHIBITION: I AM WOMAN
Friday 2nd – Wed 28th March / 10am-6pm / Free
Preview – Friday 2nd March / 7pm (2hrs) / Free
MARKET: GIFTS OF THE GODDESS
Friday 9th & Sat 10th March / 12pm-7pm / Free
For more information, visit the Strange Theatre website here.