Equality for women in theatre and the arts is currently a hot topic. Aphra Behn, was the first British woman to make her living from her pen. She wrote the first ‘novel’ – Orinooko; which had an anti-slavery theme. When she died, society conspired to bury more than her body.
Nancy Jo Cullen, Alexandria Patience and Rose Scollard wrote Aphra, the playscript, to honour this pioneer of women’s writing. The launch of this script by Frontenac House, Alberta will simultaneously take place in Calgary, Canada. Playwright, feminist & artist Alexandria Patience will be present at the launch. www.alexpatience.com
Nancy Jo Cullen, Rose Scollard and Alexandria Patience, who had fought to make their own theatrical visions through building the women centred, Maenad Theatre, learnt of Aphra Behn and understood it was time to re-claim her from the past. The script APHRA was written through this collaboration.
Aphra Behn (1640-1689) was a playwright, poet and the very first novelist. Her ‘private’ life was considered scandalous – she was the first British woman to earn her living by her pen, was a spy in Antwerp for Charles II, believed in freelove and as a staunch supporter of the Stuart line, she refused to write a welcoming poem for William III, although shortly afterwards she died in penury. When Aphra died, society conspired to bury more than her body. Although a prolific writer few of her works remain within the canon of Restoration writers.
More information is available at these links.
www.frontenachouse.com
http://www.wakingthefeminists.org
http://timescolumns.typepad.com/stothard/2015/11/waking-the-feminists.html
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