Druid is set to meet members of Waking the Feminists this month, following a letter sent to the organisation from Druid chairman, Cathal Goan.

The Waking The Feminists movement, led by Arts Manager & Stage Designer Lian Bell, began in October in response to the Abbey Theatre’s 2016 programme ‘Waking the Nation‘ and created a debate about gender inequality in Irish theatre.

In November, Artistic Director Garry Hynes had a letter published in the Irish Times, calling for all organisations to examine their own record in relation to gender inequality.

Following on from this, Druid Chairman Cathal Goan recently contacted Waking the Feminists, on behalf of the Druid Board and staff, to propose a meeting to discuss the issues raised.

Below is an extract from the letter sent by Druid Chairman, Cathal Goan:

‘I am writing to you on behalf of the board of Druid Theatre Company to thank you for highlighting in so effective a manner issues relating to Gender Equality in Irish theatre practice. We are all obliged to you for the stimulus you have provided for a necessary debate and the resolve to make improvements.

We are conscious the important issues you have raised extend well beyond the Abbey Theatre 1916 Centenary programme and require all of us in Irish theatre to ask questions of ourselves about Equality issues in the widest sense and what we – collectively and individually – are doing to address them. Our Artistic Director Garry Hynes, in asking the board to consider these matters, has circulated to us the URL for the work carried out by Tonic Theatre and Advance in the UK in order to prompt our own thinking and the issues raised will be on the Agenda for our next board meeting. That is not scheduled until early February but I would not like the momentum you have created to be dissipated by the passage of time and I’d like to suggest whatever members of the board are available together with Garry Hynes might meet with you to discuss how we might engage meaningfully to address issues you have raised.’

Druid is looking forward to the meeting, which is now scheduled for mid-December.