Maiden Phoenix's Erin Butcher Tells Of Sexual Harassment at Company's All-Female Outdoor Play

The Maiden Phoenix is a Boston Fringe theatre company committed to telling stories about women and to giving opportunities to female theater artists, onstage and off, by having at least 51% female involvement in all aspects of their productions. Their goal is to break down stereotypes and barriers, reaching a more equal world through focusing on plays that tell women's stories, past, present, and future.

In a recent contribution to HowlRound, titled "Why I Will Never Produce Another All-Female Outdoor Show Again," artistic director Erin Butcher tells of instances of sexual harassment and intimidation targeted against company members during their all-female, free outdoor public park performances of Shakespeare's A WINTER'S TALE, performed in a Somerville, Massachusetts.

'The men who frequented the park... were often homeless and almost always drunk or high," she explains. "So there we were, fifteen or so young women in a park going about our theatre business. It wasn't long before the men began to approach us. Some would try to move or touch the set, talk to the actors while they were backstage during the show, or just park it right behind the backstage area and sit there for hours-one of them eight hours straight one day-watching us."

They were advised by police that there was nothing they could legally do about it, as long as the men were not physically doing anything wrong.

Men who leered at and approached company members reacted aggressively when asked to move to the area designated for audience members. Though disgusted with the option, Butcher realized that the only way she could diffuse the situation was by acting flirtatious.

"Having to lower yourself to flirting and smiling at a man who you find frightening in order to ensure your safety and the safety of those around you is humiliating. And though no one made me do it, I don't really think I had any other choice in that moment."

By the end of the run Butcher's boyfriend started sitting backstage and suddenly there was no problem.

"And that just proved to me these men know what they're doing. They know that this behavior is not acceptable, but they believe they have a right to my attention, to my time, and to look at my body as much as they want, no matter how uncomfortable it makes me."

To be clear, Butcher assures readers she is not "wallowing in victimhood" and insists she "will not be silenced."

"I may not do another outdoor all-female show, but I'm not through fighting yet to make women's stories more visible. I've barely even started."

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