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Canada Ireland Talk Event
Imbolc 2026
Our Annual Imbolc Talk Celebrating Women
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.
Bios
Lian Bell
With a background in scenography, visual art, cultural project management, and social activism,
Lian Bell has worked for over 25 years with some of the most significant arts organisations and
contemporary performance makers in Ireland. She was Campaign Director of
#WakingTheFeminists, the grassroots campaign that changed Irish theatre, and co-authored
WTF Happened, the recent publication about the campaign (UCD Press).
Sarah Durcan
Sarah Durcan is co-author with Lian Bell of WTF Happened: #WakingTheFeminists and the
movement that changed Irish theatre (UCD Press, 2025) and has contributed to writing on
gender, culture, and science communication. She is former CEO of Science Gallery
International, has served on the boards of the Abbey Theatre, Theatre Forum, and GAZE Film
Festival, and has been active in politics.
Andrea Donaldson
Andrea Donaldson is the Artistic Director of Nightwood Theatre, Canada’s preeminent feminist
theatre in Toronto. For two decades, Donaldson has played a pivotal role in fostering new works
for the stage in her role at Nightwood, as Tarragon Theatre's Associate Artistic Director, and as
a freelance dramaturge and director. Her projects have garnered numerous nominations and
awards.
Karen Fricker
Karen Fricker writes about theatre, is an editorial advisor at Intermission magazine, and is an adjunct professor of Dramatic Arts at Brock University.
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