University Women In The Arts Announces UK Female Arts Student Showcase Details For International Women's Day Event At The Royal Court Theatre

University Women in the Arts, the one off mentoring scheme to improve the transition for women from studying the arts to working in the arts, has announced details of its showcase of some of the most talented female arts students and recent graduates in the UK.

Taking place at The Royal Court Theatre on March 9th from 7 - 8pm to celebrate International Women's Day, the showcase will feature work by 15 of the most talented female arts students and recent graduates in the UK who were selected from a nationwide search to be mentored by the University Women in the Arts scheme.

Over the last two years, the 15 students have received mentoring from the scheme and from the scheme's mentors who include Vicky Featherstone, Artistic Director of The Royal Court Theatre, Kate Rowland, founder of the BBC's new writing department BBC Writersroom and the former Creative Director of New Writing at the BBC and Anne Edyvean, current Head of BBC Writersroom.

The March 9th showcase will present work written in response to recent discussions on abuse, bullying and harassment in the arts, providing female arts students with a voice on and platform for this issue.

Jennifer Tuckett, Director of University Women in the Arts, said: "The issue of abuse, bullying and harassment in the arts has been widely discussed recently, which has been brilliant to see. We hope this showcase will provide female arts students and recent graduates with the opportunity to have their say on this issue. The showcase has been entirely produced, directed and written by the students with the help of recent arts graduates Samia Djilli and Rachel Coombe, who are our trainee producers, and we're really proud of all of their work".

The 15 female arts students who were selected from a nationwide search for the most talented female arts students in the UK for University Women in the Arts are:

1. Zoe Bailey, Bath Spa University, who is also Sales Manager for Bath Festivals and works as an Associate Director at Theatre Bath.

2. Alice Brazil Burns, Warwick University, who was awarded the Undergraduate Research Support Scheme Bursary from the Theatre, Performance and Cultural Policy Studies Department at the University of Warwick and is a recipient of the Outstanding Achiever Award from the Almeida Theatre.

3. Eleanor Colville, Cambridge University, who created an all female Smoker for the Footlights at Cambridge University and recently performed at the Vaults Festival

4. Jennifer Davidson, Bolton University, who studies for a PHD whilst looking after three small children

5. Titilola Dawudu, Central Saint Martins, who was recently selected for the Artistic Director Leadership Programme's "Leaders of Tomorrow" scheme, in addition to writing and producing

6. Alice Evans, Chelsea College of Art, who experiences schizophrenia and is pursuing a PHD in Fine Art Film

7. Helena Jackson, Oxford University, who was President of the Oxford University Dramatic Society and now directs at the Kings Head Theatre

8. Vanessa Kang, The Open University, who dances with Rambert

9. Alys Key, Oxford University/City University, who was the Editor of The Oxford Student Newspaper and won the Philip Geddes Prize for student journalism

10. Catherine Milne, Central Saint Martins, who was the former Head of Development for Lynda La Plante's Production Company before taking a break to have children

11. Daniela Monasterios, London College of Fashion, whose company Mash- Up has collaborated with Top Shop amongst others in Singapore

12. Katherine Press, Falmouth University, who was also President of the Marlowe Society at Cambridge University and is an actress, writer and filmmaker

13. Maria Roberts, Manchester Metropolitan University, Penguin published author and editor of International Arts Manager magazine, who won best Personal Blog at the Manchester Literature Festival amongst other achievements.

14. Gretha Viana, Central Saint Martins, an Emmy nominated producer from Brazil who is now working as a writer and producer in the UK and Ireland

15. Jingan Young, Kings College London, who runs company Pokfulam Road Productions as well as pursuing her PHD and whose first book was recently published by Oberon Books

More information and free tickets to the event are available at: https://universitywomeninthearts-iwdshowcase.eventbrite.co.uk

The University Women in the Arts International Women's Day events at The Royal Court Theatre will also include talks, advice and a writing workshop for female arts students, women wanting to work in the arts and those who work with them at universities, drama schools and in the arts industry.

Free tickets for the daytime events can be booked at: https://universitywomeninthearts-iwd2018.eventbrite.co.uk

University Women in the Arts was set up in 2016 to help improve the transition for women from studying the arts to working in the arts. In 2016, UCAS figures showed 63% of arts undergraduate students were female, whilst at the UK's largest arts university over 70% of students were female. However, Tonic Theatre, British Theatre Consortium, Freelands Foundation and other research has shown only around 30% of professional playwrights, directors and artists are female. University Women in the Arts mentors include Kate Bryan, former Director of The Fine Art Society, presenter, art historian and winner of the Women of the Future Arts and Culture Award; Caroline Cooper Charles, film producer, former Head of Film at Creative England and CEO of Universal Spirits; Suzie de Rohan Wilner, CEO of fashion company Toast; Anne Edyvean, producer and Head of BBC Writersroom; Vicky Featherstone, Artistic Director of The Royal Court Theatre; Amanda Foreman, historian, columnist and presenter including of the recent BBC series "The Ascent of Women"; Elizabeth Freestone, former Artistic Director of Pentabus Theatre; Charlotte Higgins, Chief Culture Writer at The Guardian; Jude Kelly, Artistic Director of the Southbank Centre and founder of the WOW Festivals; Lucy Kerbel, founder and Director of Tonic Theatre; Pinky Lilani, founder of the Women of the Future Programme; Sue Parrish, Artistic Director, Sphinx Theatre Company; Joanna Prior, Managing Director of Penguin Books, President of The Publishers Association and Chair of the Board of the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction; Tamara Rojo, Artistic Director of the English National Ballet; Kate Rowland, founder of BBC Writersroom, the BBC's new writing department, and the former Creative Director of New Writing at the BBC, Head of BBC Radio Drama and Commissioner of Radio 3's The Wire; Tanya Seghatchian, film producer of films including the Harry Potter series and My Summer of Love and former Head of the Film Fund at the UK Film Council.

For more information on the University Women in the Arts scheme in general and to join the mailing list to be kept informed of future events please go to: www.universitywomeninthearts.com

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