I was enjoying a recent warm summer’s evening with friends, listening to a rather amusing anecdote, animatedly being told by a member of the party who I’d only just been introduced to. As he peppered his sentence with expletives, he politely leans across to me, the only woman in the group, and whispers “Excuse my French”. I am in no doubt that his intention was not to exclude me from full enjoyment of the story, but nonetheless, this reaction in my gut was instant. He hadn’t addressed his apology to the other person he’d only just met that evening. As I say, he was being polite, hoping to keep me with a story that he feared that as a woman, I may have recoiled from. How was he supposed to know that I love nothing more than a good bit of effing and blinding?
Could it be perhaps that women are less likely to be the orators, sharers of stories, the tellers of anecdotes, the crackers of jokes? If women are not the story tellers, how are men supposed to be familiar with a woman’s parlance?
This is just one reason why the work of 17Percent is so exciting. Sam Hall is bringing her wonderful She Writes event to London’s Canal Cafe Theatre this month to showcase the work of women playwrights. What’s Through The Door? is an evening of three short plays inspired by a story by HG Wells. We are delighted that one of those plays is ours – Losing Light. We had the pleasure of meeting Amy Clare Tasker last week, who Sam has invited to direct. She has recently moved here from San Fransisco and has been swift to get to work, making contacts and casting. Her energy and enthusiasm is contagious.
We hope that you will be able to come to the showcase on Thursday 25th September at 7.30pm. Tickets are on sale now (£7).
In other news, Debs is busy in rehearsal for the forthcoming Icarus Theatre Company tour of Othello, which begins in Southsea on the 12th September 2013. Check out their website for more information and to book your tickets:
Meanwhile, Ali has had her running shoes on and is in training for the 2013 Great North Run on the 15th September. She is pounding the streets in aid of Mind and you are welcome to show your support by visiting and donating to her fundraising page:
And as she struggles through those difficult miles, she promises to keep her language ladylike 😉