International Women's Day has grown into so much more than just one day. Originating in the USA, in 1908, when 15,000 women marched through New York demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights, IWD is now a global day of recognition and celebration of women, and women's work.
It would be impossible for us to tell you EVERYTHING which is happening in the UK for International Women's Day, but as regular champions of women, we try to be involved in as much as possible!
This year, we're hosting a Charity Gala in support of Womankind Worldwide on the eve of women's day, at St James Theatre in London, where we'll be discussing with Shazia Mirza, Amisha Ghadiali, Princess 'Duen Adedyoin-Solarin and Yasmin Alibhai-Brown the place which humour has in women's lives, and how it makes a difference when it comes to advancing women's rights.
After this, we'll be showcasing hilarious acts from all over the world, in as global a show as we've ever done! From the 8th- 10th of March we'll be on call at Women of the World Festival at the Southbank Centre, which is one of the biggest annual celebrations of women in the country. Our stand will be a very small (but fascinating!) part of this celebration which involves talks, workshops and performances from, by and for women all over the world.
International Women's Day is a day to inspire others and to be inspired, where women can come together and work with each other, to support each other in our endeavours, to give each other advice, and a listening ear. It's a day where little girls learn that they can anything they set their minds to, and where bigger girls can rediscover their enthusiasm for being that ground-breaker.
We would love it if International Women's Day didn't have to exist anymore, and if women's achievement's were celebrated to such an extent on a daily basis. As Caroline Quentin said at Working Women day “I didn't think I'd be 50 and STILL talking about what it means to be a woman in the industry.” We expect that the women who marched in 1908 didn't think that women would STILL need to be marching through the streets in order to campaign for their rights over 100 years later.
Since we do STILL (STILL!) need to set aside a day to celebrate women's achievements and inspire women to go on achieving, we plan to do it with as much humour and fun as possible. We hope you'll join us for the Charity Gala in the evening, and that you'll drop in to one of our surgeries at the Southbank centre during the WOW festival.
Book your tickets for the Charity Gala HERE.
Find out more about the Women of the World Festival HERE.
See International Women's Day Events in your local area HERE.
Pictured: top to bottom Shazia Mirza and Caroline Quentin
