Celebrate women and their stories at Cornerstone Arts Centre as part of International Women’s Week

Comedy, music and theatre will celebrate women from all walks of life at Cornerstone Arts Centre in Didcot during International Women’s Week from 3 to 11 March.

Opening the week will be Shazia Mirza’s, whose show Coconut was recently nominated ‘Best Stand-Up Tour Show’ in Channel 4’s National Comedy Awards. Shazia is an equally fearless and hilarious Muslim female stand-up comedian, and her show ‘Coconut’ – taking place on 3 March at 7.30pm – reflects on her experience of race and identity in Britain with a healthy peppering of winning gags.

For pop-music lovers that want to get involved with the centre’s Women’s Week events, The Little Mix Show is on 4 March at 2pm. It is guaranteed to get everyone signing along and is suitable for all ages. This show features live vocals and impressive choreography to all the big hits from the award-winning girl band. 

Also featuring live music is the theatre production of Little Women on Wednesday 8 March, which is International Women’s Day. Retaining all the charm and spirit of the original classic novel by Louisa May Alcott but with a twist; the four sisters, their family and friends are all played by just one woman. This clever production is both the perfect introduction to the quintessential women’s coming-of-age story and a brilliant adaptation for even the biggest fans of Alcott’s to enjoy.

Just like Little Women, the final instalment of Cornerstone’s Women’s Week brings women’s stories to life but this time by dancing in Born To Exist: The Woman I Know on 11 March. Joseph Toonga brings three immensely expressive dancers to the stage to put a spotlight on women unseen using beautiful and hard-hitting choreography.

Cllr Maggie Filipova-Rivers, Cabinet member for Community Wellbeing at South Oxfordshire District Council, which runs Cornerstone, said: “We’re very proud to be hosting such a varied collection of shows to celebrate all women. It’s such a great line-up that will allow everyone to get involved and I’m really looking forward to it.”

All these events are bookable via the arts centre’s website and for those wanting to get involved in Women’s Week without booking any tickets, the centre is hosting a free bunting-making drop-in ahead of International Women’s Day on 4 March from midday to 4pm. Open to all ages this arty drop-in will see participants’ creations added afterwards to Cornerstone’s own in-house installation.

To book tickets or find out more visit the Cornerstone website or call the box office on 01235 515144.

The image used is from Born To Exist production, images are by Karen Jonkers and can be reused in publications