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Canada Ireland Talk Event
Imbolc 2026
Our Annual Imbolc Talk Celebrating Women
Wed. February 18, 2026 | Virtual Event
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Event Overview
Join us for Resistance, Resilience, Reflection - #WakingTheFeminists in Conversation, an in‑depth virtual event featuring the authors of WTF Happened – “#WakingTheFeminists and the Movement That Changed Irish Theatre”, Sarah Durcan and Lian Bell, joined by Andrea Donaldson, the Artistic Director of Nightwood Theatre in Toronto. Together, they will reflect on the feminist theatre movements that reshaped Ireland and Canada, how those waves of activism unfolded, and what has emerged in their wake.
The discussion will be moderated by theatre critic and scholar Karen Fricker.
#WakingTheFeminists and the Movement That Changed Irish Theatre
When the Abbey Theatre’s 2016 centenary programme featured a meagre number of women artists, it sparked a nationwide movement. Outrage on social media rapidly evolved into an award-winning year-long campaign that transformed the Irish theatre landscape – and reverberated far beyond.
WTF Happened goes behind-the-scenes of the groundbreaking #WakingTheFeminists grassroots movement for gender equality in Irish theatre, 2015–16. The untold story is revealed by Sarah Durcan, one of the core organisers of the campaign, with the input of Campaign Director Lian Bell and insightful contributions by leading activists, academics, historians, and arts professionals.
Add to Calendar Bios
Lian Bell
Lian Bell is an artist who works across art forms, including scenography, visual art, and social activism. For more than 25 years she has worked with some of Ireland's most significant arts organisations and contemporary performance makers.
Sarah Durcan
Sarah Durcan is the Executive Director of Science Gallery International, has served on several non-profit boards, and has co-authored Five Years On – Gender in Irish Theatre, An Interim View (2020) and a chapter contribution in Queering Science Communication (2023).
Andrea Donaldson
Andrea Donaldson is the current Artistic Director of Toronto's Nightwood Theatre. Andrea has directed productions for theatres across the country including Soulpepper, Factory Theatre, Tarragon Theatre, Theatre Passe Muraille, and many more.
Karen Fricker
Karen Fricker writes about theatre for the Toronto Star, is an editorial advisor at Intermission magazine, and is an adjunct professor of Dramatic Arts at Brock University.
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