Journalist and activist Scarlett Curtis recently graced the Nottingham Playhouse stage with her live podcast Feminists Don’t Wear Pink. The title originated as her debut novel wherein she curated 52 essays by incredible women in the media, film and entertainment industries (including the likes of Emma Watson and Saoirse Ronan). It was this project that, in Scarlett’s words, ‘gave birth’ to the podcast, which extended to a live show that recently toured the UK and exists on platforms such as Apple Podcasts and Audioboom. Her Campus Nottingham were lucky enough to be invited as members of the press to see the live show at the Playhouse.
The show started off with a welcome from Scarlett herself who introduced one of her best friends, Grace Campbell, to warm up the audience with a comedy skit. It definitely worked as it was met with roars of laughter from those around me who reacted to her anecdotes of fighting for the attention of her father, Alistair Campbell, by bullying none other than pop sensation Dua Lipa (Campbell’s confident delivery inevitably makes sense of the whole thing). Let’s just say I’ll never see a bowl of cornflakes in the same light.
Campbell’s warm comedy sketch certainly prepped the audience when entering into more serious matters such as the recent abortion ban in the US and the fact that this happened during the same week that Grumpy Cat died (although I’m a bit sceptical of Scarlett’s theory that the two are somehow connected). Candice Carty-Williams (author of Queenie) and June Sarpong (broadcaster and former Loose Women presenter) gave enlightening accounts of diversity issues including on what it meant to be black women within the feminist movement.
It’s worth a mention that I’m not usually one to go to live events of this nature. If I’m going to the theatre, which I do quite often, I’m far more likely to musical theatre or plays. However, after engaging with the conversation topics of the podcast I’m definitely going to be more inclined to go to more live podcast talks particularly on matters such as feminism and diversity. It’s a concept I’ve never really thought of before, but women touring the UK and raising their voices is a very powerful, direct form of activism that’s easily accessible to anyone. Count me in for more.
Personally, Scarlett and her fellow guests will always remain a source of inspiration to me, especially considering my own ambitions in the journalism industry. The evening left me feeling as though the feminism that I inject into my own journalism really can and will make a difference. Seeing such successful and outspoken women flourish onstage made me believe that any of us, no matter our race, gender or previous experiences of adversity can make a uniquely meaningful contribution to feminism.
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