Happy International Women’s Day
2024 March 7Friday 8 March is International Women’s Day and this year’s theme is Inspire Inclusion.
Gender income inequality is still an issue in the theatre industry. Despite the equality act of 2010, women are kept back from progressing in the workplace. That isn’t the case at Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield. The senior leadership team is 75% female and above them the board of trustees are 83% female.
At Lawrence Batley Theatre we celebrate women’s achievements. We do this to play our part in ending gender discrimination and promoting inclusion. This International Women's Day, we are taking time to shine the spotlight on a few of the inspirational and talented women we have the pleasure of working with.
Prue Griffiths, Julie Root & Lynne Whittaker
Root & Branch Productions
We are three of the co-founders of Root & Branch Productions, set up in 2016 to provide and promote strong roles for older women, both on and off stage. Our fourth show, Danny Echo, returns to Lawrence Batley Theatre in May. The theatre has helped us from the start. Former CEO Victoria Firth took a risk and programmed us while advocating for us elsewhere in Yorkshire. Successive CEOs gave us the robust feedback we needed to keep improving. After several scary giant leaps, we are now Arts Council England funded. It's never too late to live your dreams! We are so lucky, in these perilous times, to have a local theatre that supports local artists. Thank you, Lawrence Batley Theatre!
Danny Echo is on Thu 16 to Sat 18 May. Tickets available from Wed 20 March.
Rose Condo
Host of Attic Stories
One of the strings to my bow, you see
Is working in performance poetry
And a place that gave huge support to me
Was the wonderful LBT
They were there at the very start
Of me exploring this form of art
Providing opportunities for me to take part
In their programme - full of creative heart
Our relationship is still strong to this day
As every month I make my way
To Attic Stories for more spoken word play
To the LBT - huge thanks and hooray
Natalia Mirkun
Leader of the Ukrainian Friendship Group
We are the Ukrainian Friendship Group. We are a family. Lawrence Batley Theatre became our home in the UK. It is a safe space for children and adults to come along and be creative. A place where Ukrainian people don't feel like strangers. I lead different activities at the theatre for both children and adults. This includes: drama, dance, drawing, movement, IT and language skills. We also provide activities for their parents. These include pilates, dance, drama, singing and women's wellbeing. Why are we doing this? Because we can't stop. One of our children once told me "I came here because I want to meet new friends. Mine are still in Ukraine. I am lonely here". Together we are one. We can change the world for the better together. Lawrence Batley Theatre is our Theatre of Sanctuary.
Madiha Ansari
Lawrence Batley Theatre Community Ambassador
As a proud Kirklees native, I'm privileged to serve as a Community Ambassador for Lawrence Batley Theatre. My endeavours span from nurturing the Young Carers Creative Makers initiative alongside LUNG to gracing the stage with the all-female cast of Vitamin D (2023). I've also played a role in shaping the theatres’ diverse cultural program. And I contributed to the development and delivery of Rasm-e-Milan, where our South Asian Women's Choir, Song Geet, truly shone. Under the robust and conscientious female leadership, the theatre's commitment to community engagement and artist development distinguishes us. It makes me proud to be part of this vibrant cultural hub.
Rachel Root
Theatre Director
I am the Director/Choreographer for the annual Christmas pantomime. I came to Lawrence Batley Theatre in 2007 as an actor and fell in love with the place. I later returned with my performing arts school. Bringing 75 young artists from all over Huddersfield to perform at the theatre. In 2016, I was appointed Choreographer for the pantomime and then became Assistant Director in 2017. My greatest achievement to date was in 2022 when the baton was handed to me to direct Jack and the Beanstalk. This was a risk for the theatre, but they trusted and supported me at every step. I’m truly grateful to work in such a wonderful place where women empower other women. They have a crew like no other!
