Saturday 4th May: The Female Gaze
7.30pm - F*cking Feminists by Rose Lewenstein.
Director Olivia Marie.
Get ready to dive into “F***ing Feminists,” where a Gen Z cast takes centre stage to deliver a fresh and feisty perspective on feminism. A piece written by the fierce Rose Lewenstein featured in Women on Centre Stage, this play doesn’t hold back—it’s a rollercoaster of modern feminist discourse peppered with strong language from the get-go. Join us as we navigate the labyrinth of gender politics in the age of social media. Strap in for a wild ride that’s equal parts hilarious and thought-provoking, because Anything is Possible You Just Have to Believe in Yourself!
8.00pm - Carol Whitworth
Inspired by a childhood exploring the arcadian glory of the idyllic Shotover estate, deep in the Wychwood of Rural Oxfordshire, singer/songwriter/multi- instrumentalist and sometimes DJ Carol conjures finely drawn and shrewdly observed poetic soundscapes of astonishing depth and beauty. Her worldbuilding, drawn from experience in this ancient corner of our ancient magical islands, is populated by a cast of fascinating and nuanced characters.
Whilst giving Joni Mitchell, Nick Drake, John Martyn as her inspiration, Carol’s is a unique voice, rich in subtle metaphor, vulnerable yet strong; contemporary, but with roots deep in the subsoil of our rural past. She makes her Criterion debut at this year’s festival - not to be missed.
8.30pm - Zero Hour by Andrea Mbarushimana.
Zero Hour is a poetry drama for two voices about coming to terms with a diagnosis of epilepsy.
Andrea Mbarushimana is a published writer of poetry and short fiction based in Coventry. Andrea was a core poet for the BBC Contains Strong Languages festival in 2021. Zero Hour was written as part of a residency with Birmingham University SMQB group.
Martin Jordan aka Maxi di Poet is a creative spoken word artist and actor.
@Andymba24
9.05pm - Kinver Players present Vita and Virginia by Eileen Atkins
Director Richard Delahaye.
Virginia Woolf meets fellow author Vita Sackville-West in London in the 1920s. They embark on a 20-year relationship that inspires one of Virginia's most famous novels, Orlando.
Abridged by the cast from the original play by Eileen Atkins, Vita and Virginia consists entirely of words spoken or written by Vita Sackville-West and Virginia Woolf during their 20 year friendship.
The production deftly brings to life the real letters and diaries of the two women, revealing deep friendship, wit and passion between the literary genius and the aristocratic yet middle-brow poet.
“A beautifully sensitive portrayal of a remarkable love story”
Virginia Woolf Society of Great Britain
www.nkp.org.uk/vita-and-virginia for the background information, plus full media and audience reviews
Media review snippets
"An astonishing piece of theatre"
FRINGE REVIEW
“Emma Francis and Ruth Cattell smash it!”
EDINBURGH REVIEWS
“A wondrous exploration of the epistolary side of their near-romance”.
BROADWAY WORLD
“Blending literature, love and loss, this performance is a rare insight into a troubled mind”.
THE STUDENT MAGASINE
“An intense and snappy play which represents the very best of what theatre is capable of.”
EDFRINGE REVIEW
“This is an immensely intimate, compelling, and tender story tracing the beginning, middle, and tragic end of an intense romantic relationship. Highly recommended.”
BRIG NEWS