In July 2009, playwright Sam Hall heard the statistic ‘17 percent’ mentioned in two related contexts and was inspired to make a change.
The first instance appeared at a conference at the National Theatre, where it was stated that only 17% of playwrights are female. (An informal look at the plays on in London in October 2009 revealed that a much smaller percentage of women are actually having their work performed on a regular basis.)
The second instance was in an informal study by American playwright Julia Jordan which found that 17 percent of plays in American non-profit theatres were written by female playwrights.
Although around 80% of the attendees on writing courses are female only 17% of the plays produced in the UK are by women. Only 12% of UK films made are written by women. Why is there such a huge drop-out rate for women who started out wanting to write for the theatre or screen? Why don’t they make the transition from student to practising writer? Is there an industry bias - and why does it matter if there is?
Support and networking organisations for theatre practitioners in general are few. The nature of the industry means that opportunities for networking are infrequent, though it has been shown that a high majority of work is gained through personal contacts. Many writers complain about the isolation of the career, and a lack of dissemination of information relating to work opportunities.
17percent will create an environment that supports women and helps them develop their careers, and promotes women as playwrights.Vision
A UK theatre where an equal number of plays by women (and men) are written and performed.
Mission
To redress the gender imbalance of plays being produced in the UK, by providing women with opportunities to develop as writers, through peer-to-peer networking and educational opportunities, championing women’s achievements in the theatre, promoting female writers and providing positive female role models and inspirations.
About 17percent