Women@RADA
Women@RADA is a grassroots collective founded by Natasha Rickman, Rhiannon Oliver, and Melanie Jessop and run by RADA students and graduates. It’s a forum for discussion of the issues around gender equality in the field of performance and brings together RADA graduates and students, both performance and technical, with industry professionals, all of any age and gender, to explore ways to address gender disparity. It also aims to develop and support the creativity of women across the industry. Events include: play readings, skills workshops, and professional development opportunities.
RADA is delighted to nurture and support this initiative.
The Women@RADA 100
Women@RADA 100 is a programme of rehearsed readings which was launched in January 2015. Women@RADA will be performing 100 play readings ranging from classics to new writing, with many authors able to attend to introduce and discuss their work. Woman@RADA endeavours to promote opportunities for women actors of all ages, directors and writers in today’s theatre. The series also features some very exciting guests performing and directing too!
Readings are free to attend and open to the public. Tickets can be reserved in advance a week before the show via the RADA website, or obtained on the door on the day of the reading (subject to availability, space is limited!).
All readings take place in the RADA Club Theatre (unless stated otherwise) at RADA Studios, 16 Chenies Street, WC1E 7EX.
Upcoming Play Readings
The Women@RADA 100 playreadings will continue in autumn 2017.
You can see Women@RADA in this year's RADA Festival as they present The Lizzie Play, directed by Nona Shepphard and based on The Fall River Axe Murders by Angela Carter, adapted by Deirdre Strath. The Lizzie Play scavenges trial transcripts, newspaper reports and true crime writing to give a darkly humorous, haunting retelling of a brutal and curiously tidy act of parental butchery:
Mr Borden strokes his stocks and bonds; Mrs Borden ceaselessly eats. Their exhausted maid takes to her sweltering attic bed. They’re all out of sorts. Daughter Lizzie, too, feels peculiar, isn’t quite herself today. In the blistering morning heat, she irons. She could have escaped the heat, could have joined her sister at the beach. Emma begged her to come, begged her not to stay in Fall River, not to stay in the Borden house for one more minute. As if under a spell, Lizzie couldn't leave. Lizzie had a pressing date with destiny. Lizzie Borden took an axe...
Women@RADA also lead a forum, Offending Women, joining guest speakers including Clean Break Theatre in a discussion on female transgression and punishment, breaking the female mould and challenging perceptions within today’s society.
Other performances at the RADA Festival include a rehearsed reading of The Glasshouse, which was previously staged in the Women@RADA 100.
Writers and Directors
We are not currently accepting play submissions to our Women@Rada 100 series. When submissions re-open we will announce it here. Directors interested in working with us should send a CV and covering letter to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Please state DIRECT in the subject line. We welcome male and female directors. You do not need to be a RADA graduate.
Play Report Team
We need RADA graduate playreaders to report on submissions. It is a flexible commitment that allows you to read as many plays as your have time for. Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. stating READERS in the subject line with your name and course/year of graduation
To find out more about Women@RADA:
- join our newsletter mailing list by emailing: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with MAILING LIST in the subject line
- join the Facebook page
- follow us on Twitter at @women_at_rada.