We Salute International Women’s Day: Teesri Duniya Theatre's Official Statement
Originally posted March 10, 2020
Teesri Duniya Theatre joins women around the world who are fighting for gender equality, justice, and social change.
Teesri Duniya Theatre celebrates International Women’s Day with the production of Counter Offence, a show that addresses the challenges of ending violence against women and racism in the era of #MeToo, Missing and Murdered Indigenous women, Law 21, ethno-nationalism, patriarchy, and majoritarian tyranny attempting to wipeout pluralism, and diversity.
We salute the women around the world leading popular movements: Wet'suwet'en land defenders, fighting for reconciliation, against climate crisis, and more; The women around the world calling out perpetrators of gendered violence; The women who have died or languish in prisons, paying a high price for their role in struggles for justice and the dignity for their people. We stand with the women fighting against homophobia, xenophobia, ageism, occupation, regime-change, ethno-nationalist fascism, fundamentalism, and right-wing extremism.
In Teesri Duniya Theatre, we salute women in the arts who are waging a valiant battle for gender equality and fair representation, for diversity and pluralism. Since 2003, all our plays have been directed and designed by women without exception. We named our 2019-2020 season “Are We There Yet?” as a call to examine where we, as a society, are today.
There have been many positive changes. For example, upwards of 100 countries have made legal reforms to support gender equality and address discrimination. More than three-quarters of countries now have laws against domestic violence in place. But we acknowledge it is not sufficient. No country has truly achieved gender equality. Challenges remain.
After decades of struggle, right in our home province, just in the past months four women have been murdered by men for the choices they made. Counter Offence is our theatrical response, a way of marking our struggles, challenges, and unmet goals. On this International Women’s Day, we dedicate our stage for the cause of justice and equality.
Celebrate International Women’s Day against patriarchy with Pride!
FURTHER READING
Mainline Theatre - Predator: A Live Staged Reading
Montreal Gazette - Montrealers mark International Women’s Day in the fight to be considered equals
