EXPLORE THIS YEAR'S CELEBRATIONS
Join us from anywhere in the world and celebrate in-person or online the incredible contributions of our female peers across the industry as we aim to discuss barriers, challenge stereotypes and address discrimination in keeping with this year's campaign theme to #EmbraceEquity.
Insights: International Women's Day
Join us in our Linbury Theatre and on YouTube this International Women's Day as we sit down with a dedicated panel of creatives discussing the theme of gender equity in dance. The event will include an exclusive performance of Born to Exist: The Woman I Know created by Royal Ballet Emerging Choreographer Joseph Toonga.
ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE
Born to Exist: The Woman I Know is the third instalment of Royal Ballet Emerging Choreographer Joseph Toonga's Born to Manifest trilogy. The previous two instalments, Born to Manifest and Born to Protest were performed in the Linbury Theatre last year and addressed the Black British male experience.
Born to Exist: The Woman I Know has been developed in collaboration with a wide range of women, using conversations and responses to develop a performance focused on the lived, shared experiences and perspectives of Black and ethnic minority women.
Alongside the creation of this performance, Toonga is working with three afro-Brazilian female creatives on a social programme – Young, Gifted & Black – to empower low-income Black female teenagers in Rio de Janeiro through dance.
HerStory of the Royal Opera House
Immerse yourself on this in-depth tour of the Royal Opera House exploring the experiences of the incredible women who made it. Look back over hundreds of years of history and meet those who have managed, directed, and shaped both The Royal Opera and The Royal Ballet companies.
Engender
Engender is The Royal Opera’s initiative to deliver transformational change in gender representation and drive gender equality in all areas of the opera sector, both on stage and behind the scenes. Our annual Engender Festival will return 30 June - 2 July and will focus on two new works led by women opera-makers supported by the network.
More details on the Engender Festival 2023 programme to be announced soon.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS YEAR’S ENGENDER
HISTORY OF THE PRESENT
Summer 2023 will see the premiere of the first opera researched and developed through the support of the Engender network; Maria Fusco’s groundbreaking film History of the Present.
This semi-autobiographical work connects eras and art forms, amplifying untold stories of marginalised communities and collective trauma.
History of the Present will be shown in the Linbury Foyer on the 2 July. Tickets on sale soon.
Woman at Point Zero
Our second Engender commission Woman at Point Zero premieres in our Linbury Theatre this June co-presented as part of the Aldeburgh Festival and Shubbak Festival 2023.
Inspired by the seminal novel by Egyptian writer and feminist Nawal El Saadawi, Woman at Point Zero unites composer Bushra El-Turk, director Laila Soliman, writer Stacy Hardy and scenographer and film designer Bissane Al Charif in a contemporary multimedia opera blending Western and Eastern traditions. The composition will be performed on a unique mix of ancient folk instruments by musicians from all over the world.
Tickets on general sale 13 April.
CELEBRATE WITH ROH STREAM
Relive the stories of iconic female characters across opera and ballet with our bespoke International Women’s Day collection showing on our streaming platform.
Get involved
Keep an eye on our social channels ahead of 8 March where we will be sharing content from female creatives across the organisation encouraging conversation on gender equity throughout the industry.
Use the hashtags #IWD23 and #EmbracingEquity to follow along the action on the day.
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