This innovative retelling of Medusa’s story through collective rage, agency and a female gaze has been written for International Women’s Day in 2022. Written and directed by Hannah Phillips and co-created with composer Nik Haley and film maker Nicola Prestage, the production blurs the lines between live and virtual performance using spoken word, new composition, song, film, and interactive technology.

The diverse and fierce female identifying collective of performers challenge a misogynistic myth which has silenced and sexualised Medusa whilst intersecting current gender issues and questioning gender injustice women and girls face globally.

Dr Hannah Phillips, writer and director said: “I wanted to reimagine Medusa using a female gaze in a #MeToo climate of collective rage. We need to revolutionise conversations around the global crisis of sexual violence and consider how we teach sex education and consent in schools. Although the performance deals with challenging and sensitive issues it is also pretty badass, hopeful and playful.”

The diverse fierce female identifying collective are Worcestershire based Natalie Cutler, an actor and writer who focuses on women’s rights issues; Worcester based Katy Rooke an actress, producer and director who has worked in the UK and China as well as co-founder and Director of White Socks Theatre CIC; Birmingham based Ebony Wilson, graduate of Birmingham Royal Conservatoire and current Musical Director of the Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer – Well Women’s Choir; and Worcester based Yasmin Agilah Hood, a visual artist and singer.

Mobilise is a new company, re-emerging from the former Worcester Arts Workshop. Mobilise aims to embed care and self-care into the foundations of its work which is why the team have been working with Worcester based Counsellor, Isabel dos Santos to explore self-care for performers and strategies to avoid re traumatisation and manage triggering content for both performers and audiences. West Mercia’s Women’s Aid will also be present at performances.

Sue Coleman, Chief Executive from West Mercia Women’s Aid said: “Raising awareness of violence and the abuse of women and girls has never been more important, and we are really pleased for the opportunity to support this production. ‘Mobilise’ approach this work with a rare and exciting blend of fearless challenge and emotional intelligence and we look forward to seeing the impact that their production will inevitably have on those lucky enough to experience it.”

This work has been supported by and will premiere at Worcester Theatres. CEO Sarah-Jane Morgan said: “Worcester Theatres are working to broaden and diversify programming/audiences engaging with a wider range of theatre creators and dynamic new partnerships to enable this process.

“Mobilise are an excellent example of this – an exciting new company offering more sensitive, challenging, contemporary and exciting pieces of work enabling social discussion and change. I am looking forward to Badass Medusa #Metoo immensely and future projects with this company.”

Worcester Theatres and Mobilise will be donating £1 of every ticket bought for Badass Medusa #MeToo to West Mercia’s Women’s Aid.