The final iteration of Festival of Women: N.O.W. (Not Ordinary Work) is happening, and like the year before, the experience will be a fully digital affair. From Jul 13-31, the empowering fiesta for women will happen across various digital platforms, engaging and exciting new and existing audiences.
With 15 programmes lined-up, N.O.W. 2021 will offer everything from livestream productions to digital exhibitions and workshops. Helmed by theatre company T:>Works, this year’s festival will explore taboo topics, particularly those rarely seen or heard within the diverse communities of women.
Just check out Thamizhachi: A Digital Museum of Tamil Women Under Construction, led by anthropologist and writer Vithya Subramaniam as well as Brown Voices which showcase the voices and labour of Tamil women as they are often less visible than their male counterparts.
There is also (un)becoming stories coming to Instagram to spotlight a diverse collection of striking narratives on mothers and daughters. Combining live performances, films and digital snooping, (un)becoming invites audiences to toggle between screens, peek and read through text messages and search histories, to gain a better understanding of the characters and the secrets they hold.
Then mark your calendars for Cabaret Joy as this interdisciplinary, interactive performance will be merged with film to reveal the inner workings of a digital cabaret, bringing the chaos of a ‘live’ cabaret into the digital realm.
Co-created by the biggest drag queen in Singapore Becca D’Bus and actor-comedian Deonn Yang, Cabaret Joy unpacks joy within the LGBTQ+ community, where stories of triumphs and success are often eclipsed by narratives of tragedy and trauma.
As for workshops, be sure to check out Let’s Talk Circumcision, led by Crit Talk, which raises awareness and understanding of the ritual of circumcision across cultures. Ladies are also welcome to join in online cooking workshop Restorative Tonics for Body and Soul, led by medicine woman Ajuntha Anwari. Examining food and herb culture plus its restorative and efficacious potency on women’s sexual and reproductive organs, Ajuntha prepares several tonics for participants to cook alongside her.
Finally, aspiring playwrights will not want to miss the popular 24-Hour Playwriting Competition which will introduce meal delivery for the first time, bringing participants together for an exciting shared experience. Telegram will also be used for the very first time, in order to facilitate open communication among fellow participants and organisers throughout the 24 hours.
With so much to see and do at the all-inclusive festival, just head to Sistic to grab tickets to N.O.W. 2021.
More information available here.
