Go to a typical UK theatre show, and for every 10 people in the audience, seven will be women. This isn't new. Surveys in the 1980s showed that at least half of theatre audiences were women at that time. But inside the theatre industry, women faced a glass ceiling made of stone. 

"One of the key stereotypes about women directors was that women were okay on the small scale. But large scale plays like Pravda, that sort of meaty work couldn't be done by women."

Much like today, the most important and prestigious jobs in theatre were held by not by women, but by men.

"Somebody on the board said there are too many ladies around here and not enough meat. It wasn't a pleasant environment to work in."

And for women writers, producers, directors and actors, pursuing a theatre career meant a constant fight against deeply entrenched sexist prejudice and stereotyping.

"Their stance was 'we employ the best'. And when you try to examine what 'the best' was, it was them. So it was a circular argument."

Director Sue Dunderdale hosts this exploration of the challenges faced by women in theatre with historian and dramaturg Dr. Susan Croft and producer Gill Lloyd MBE. 

Introduced by Ardent Theatre Company Creative Director Andrew Muir.

In this Episode:

1:16 - Running an all-women theatre organisation

4:26 - Key practitioners and venues

7:27 - Dealing with entrenched sexism

8:30 - The Standing Conference of Women Theatre Directors and Administrators

13:22 - Intersection with anti-apartheid and the miners' strike

19:11 - The lack of women in leadership positions

28:00 - Increasing visibility of women in theatre by the end of the 80s

Activism in the 80s is a Creative Kin production for Ardent Theatre Company.

Executive Producer & Producer: Jason Caffrey

Production music: Ellie Parker

Mixing and Mastering: Adam Double

This production has been supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players.

Links:

https://www.ardenttheatre.co.uk/strike-about

https://www.creativekin.co.uk/

https://www.heritagefund.org.uk/

http://www.suedunderdale.com/

https://www.unfinishedhistories.com/about/who-we-are/susan-croft/

https://www.unfinishedhistories.com/

http://www.unlimitedglobalalchemy.com/gill-lloyd

https://www.peopleshow.co.uk/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-caffrey/

https://www.ardenttheatre.co.uk/andrew-muir

http://www.adamdouble.com/about

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellie-parker-9ba9aa195/