On Sunday (8 March 2020), as the world celebrates International Women's Day, the Ophelia team will be rehearsing their feminist take on Hamlet.
Although Ophelia Thinks Harder was written over 25 years ago, its messages on the representation and treatment of women are still scarily relevant. Yes, it's a comedy, but it has some very pertinent things to say. On International Women's Day, we wanted to draw your attention to a few facts about women in theatre.
A survey by theatre company iN BLOOM in 2017 showed that 87% of women in theatre feel under represented. The statistics show they're not wrong. According to a study by UK arts data experts Purple Seven in 2018 (based on 2012-2015 data):
- Female customers account for 65% of ticket revenue, but only 39% of actors, 36% of directors and 28% of writers of plays performed are women.
- Male playwrights write 37% of parts for women, while female playwrights write for 60% female casts.
- Critics award more 4 and 5 star ratings to plays with casts of their own gender.
- Male directors and writers command bigger stages and higher ticket prices.
- The proportion of female directors has increased by 5% since 2012
