The Stage

Playwright Teevan and director Chadha to speak at Sphinx gender equality conference

Published Tuesday 9 June 2009 at 14:10 by Matthew Hemley

Playwright Colin Teevan and Bend It Like Beckham director Gurinder Chadha are the latest confirmed speakers for Sphinx Theatre Company’s conference addressing gender equality in the arts.

The conference, called Vamps, Vixens and Feminists - The Elephant in the Room, will look at employment and representation of women in theatre, film and television and is being held at the National Theatre next week.

Other speakers confirmed to join Teevan, whose reworking of Ibsen’s Peer Gynt for the National Theatre of Scotland has just completed a run at the Barbican, include ITV director of drama Laura Mackie and BBC producer Hilary Salmon, whose credits include Moses Jones and Criminal Justice.

Chaired by former Labour MP Oona King, who is currently head of diversity at Channel 4, Sphinx’s event will focus on women working in the industry in both performance and behind the scenes jobs - such as writers, directors and producers - and will address issues relating to role equality, employment of older female performers and the representation of women in theatre and television productions.

It will be opened by Baroness Prosser and will also feature contributions from actress Kate Buffery, Equity vice president Jean Rogers and writer Tanika Gupta.

The event will take place in the Olivier Theatre at the National on Tuesday, June 16 from 10am until 1.30pm. Places, which are free, can be booked by emailing info@sphinxtheatre.co.uk or by calling 020 7401 9994.