International Women's Day at the Royal Opera House

The Royal Opera House marks International Women's Day, on Monday 8 March, with a series of events that spill over into the following week, all highlighting the role of women in the creative industries.

The programme includes panel discussions, dialogues, the premiere of two filmed songs, and an in-depth look at the ROH's Engender Network, which aims to grow the participation of female talent both on stage and behind the scenes.

Here are the highlights:

Monday 8 March, 1pm: Kind Regards premieres on Facebook
Composed by Lillie Harris with words by Laura Attridge, the song is performed by soprano April Koyejo-Audiger and is directed by TD. Moyo, a graduate of JPYA (Jette Parker Young Artists) 2020 opera director training programme.

Monday 8 March, 6pm: Pam Tanowitz talks to Beatriz Stix-Brunel on ROH Instagram channel
The American Pam Tanowitz is one of the most original and rigorous choreographers working today, whose work we need to see a lot more of in the UK. Her complex, dazzling treatment of TS Eliot's Four Quartets, performed at the Barbican just under two years ago, was received with general acclaim, and subsequently Tanowitz was commissioned to create a piece for the Royal Ballet.

The result was Everyone Keeps Me, a sunny composition for nine dancers, among them Royal Ballet First Soloist Beatriz Stix-Brunel.
Pam Tanowitz and Beatriz Stix-Brunel will discuss female choreography in the 21st century and female role models in the dance world.

Monday 8 March, 7pm: Panel Discussion on the ROH YouTube channel
The Guardian's chief theatre critic, Arifa Akbar, chairs a discussion entitled Influence, challenge, and change: What is next for women in the creative industries? The panel includes: Frances Morris, director of Tate Modern; Paule Constable, lighting designer and associate director of the National Theatre; Indhu Rubasingham, artistic director of Kiln Theatre and trustee of the Royal Opera House, and South African soprano Pretty Yende, who made her Royal Opera debut in 2017 as Adina in Laurent Pelly’s production of L’elisir d’amore.

Thursday 11 March, 1pm: Premiere of a recital of I am not yours – Mother Nature on ROH Facebook channel
This piece was composed by Anna Semple and written by Susannah Pearse, who also participated in the JPYA Women’s Empowerment workshop for opera makers led by Katie Mitchell in December 2020. The song is performed by JPYA mezzo-soprano Stephanie Wake-Edwards, accompanied by Caroline Dowdle on piano.

Monday 8 March onwards: Spotlight on the Engender Network on ROH social channels
The Engender Network was set up by the ROH two years ago to highlight and grow the wealth of female talent, both onstage and behind the scenes. It provides space and opportunity for personal development, peer support and creation of new work as well as conversations about gender in opera and exploring the barriers to equality. Membership has grown from 80 to 180 during the pandemic and the Network has become a vital resource for creative relationships and the cultivation of new ideas.

For full details of the programme consult the ROH website.