There is a certain image that women hold in folklore. Often, they are portrayed as submissive and passive, depending on the male figures in the story. This image perpetuates and reinforces notions of patriarchy and traditional gendered roles, showcasing women as secondary figures, while the male occupies the role of protagonist.

However, there are also stories where women take the centre stage. These tales are a space created by and for women, where they are able to express all parts of themselves. Here, the woman can display both deep longing as well as subservience that she otherwise would not be able to.

Folk & Femme is a theatre production by Parwana Theatre, developed in collaboration with the Centre for Contemporary Folklore (CCF). At its core, the project asks: How do women’s lives, desires, and struggles find expression in folklore, and how can theatre re-embody these voices in the present? As part of Folk & Femme, this International Women’s Day, we bring to you Women in Folklore, which invites our readers to join us in celebrating women and their ability to recreate, replenish and repossess identity, agency and experience.