insideKENT Magazine Issue 48 - March 2016 | Page 19

ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT

Women of the World 2016
– FESTIVAL OF INSPIRING WOMEN
Folkestone Quarterhouse / Tuesday 8th – Saturday 12th March

This spring Folkestone marks International Women’s Day for the fourth time
with Women of the World Folkestone, a branch of the Southbank Centre’s annual
festival. Co-curated by Folkestone Quarterhouse, Folkestone Fringe and Leah
Thorn, WOW Folkestone is a bold and broad festival that celebrates women and
girls and explores important topics for women today.
WOW 2016 will look at topics like women in war,
in politics, the beauty industry, ageing, men's
role in ending sexism, righting the underrepresentation of women from the school syllabus,
as well as energising and providing the inspiration
and tools to bring in change. At the heart of the
WOW Folkestone programme are a series of
inspirational performances and participatory
workshops. These activities are linked in themes
so you can take a pick-and-mix approach or
pursue particular topics across art forms.
Highlights include the grand dame of
anarchic dance Liz Aggiss with The English
Channel (Tues 8th March, 7.30pm), telling the
story of a career forged in the heady waters of
performance art and dance-film. It vividly depicts
Liz resuscitating herself back into the on-stage
limelight. Join Quarterhouse for a night of new
theatre with the WOW Scratch Night (Wed 9th
March, 7.30pm), an opportunity for artists from
Kent to get together and share extracts of new
work. Folkestone also welcomes the London
Feminist Film Festival (Thurs 10th March 7.30pm),
a night of short films on inspiring women’s rights
activism around the world. Victoria Melody
presents Hair Peace (Fri 11th March, 7.30pm),
a comedic exploration from an unlikely sleuth!
After being told she would need to wear hair
extensions as part of a beauty pageant, Victoria
set out on an extraordinary adventure to find out
exactly where this hair comes from!

Handan productions present their powerful
performance piece Valiant, recounting the true
stories of thirteen women in war (Saturday 12th
March, 11.15am). In Motherhood and Identity
explore the physical, social and political aspects
of identity that are altered by motherhood
(Saturday 12th March, 10am). You can brush up
on your presentation skills in the Speaking in
Public workshop (Saturday 12th March, 10am)
and learn to let your soul sing in Theatre of the
Voice with jazz singer Carol Grimes (Friday 11th
March, 12.30pm).
Don’t miss an uproarious closing night from
Women of the World in Concert (Saturday 12th
March, 7.30pm). The WOW Concert is a gig, a
party and a celebration of female artistry. The
event begins with singer/ songwriters Emily Watts
and Nina Clark followed by the first public
performance of the Quarterhouse Choir led by
Carol Grimes. The Quarterhouse is thrilled to
welcome American singer/songwriter and Radio
2 presenter Nell Bryden. Nell performs an eclectic
mix of her own tracks and discusses some of
the most important female artists in the music
world. Following the concert, enjoy some time
in the Quarterhouse Bar for closing drinks and
music by DJ Dolly-Doo-Wop!
WOW Bites will take place daily, presenting
four bites per session. Get refreshed and inspired
by new ideas, performances, manifestos and
more! Join the WOW Speed Mentoring Session

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(Sat 12th March, 10.30am), exchange ideas and
stories and be mentored by experts from a wide
selection of professions. Meet, network and
discover at the WOW Market (Sat 12th March,
10am) featuring a diverse range of stalls
showcasing work, raising awareness, offering
workshops and selling wares.
For the full WOW Folkestone programme
go to the festivals page of the Quarterhouse
website www.quarterhouse.co.uk and find them
on twitter @WOWFolkestone.
A five day festival pass (£40) and a one day
pass for Sat 12th March (£15) are available
(booking essential). Events can also be booked
individually.