Frome celebrated International Women’s Day 2024 with a week of talks, theatre, music and sport – and a crowdfunder to raise £4,500 for 300 plastic-free period packs for Frome youngsters. All events were focused on this year’s theme ‘Inspire Inclusion’.
Storyteller, scientist and social entrepreneur Dr Samantha Hiew shared insights into the experience of women with ADHD on 5th March at a packed Cheese and Grain. The following day, on Wednesday 6th March, a gathering in the Grain Bar saw several ‘lightning talks’, three-minute platforms for women to share thoughts, ideas and inspiration, organised by Dawn Denton. Spoken work poet Liv Torc was among them, with the premiere of a brand new piece ‘May the Pants Be With You’, supporting a crowdfunder to raise £4,500 to gift all girls and people who menstruate in year 8 and 9 in From a ‘celebration’ pack. The packs contain plastic-free period products, designed to set young people off on a sustainable path with period products, while combatting anxiety and encouraging conversation.
Trio Paradis’ monthly concert at Christ Church focused on women composers including Rosalind Ellicot and Rebecca Clark, with ‘Daughters of the Muse’ on 7th March.
On IWD itself, Friday 8th March, women took to the climbing wall for free and enjoyed a screening of seven short films by Women’s Adventure Film Tour, while audiences at the Merlin Theatre took in a performance from Lou Featherstone aka ‘Lu in Luland’, a Bad Feminist, Vibrator Advocate & Accidental Middle Age influencer. For the foodies and bibliophiles, award-winning author hosted a literary lunch at Bistro Lotte, reading from her book ‘Sins of the Father’.
