In late 1980s New Zealand, the lack of opportunities for women in theatre pushed practitioners to create spaces where women felt like they belonged. Hen’s Teeth (1988), and Not Broadcast Quality (1990), saw women begin using devised theatre to create work using their own voices. However, my research illustrates that in the 21st Century it’s still challenging for women to feel confident to use their own body and words in rehearsal rooms and on stage. To investigate this I interviewed seven women devisors of different ages, and conducted a survey with over 100 responses. The results indicated a juxtaposition that while devising can produce a multiplicity of voices, many women felt their voices were being ignored. They felt that they didn’t belong in the rehearsal room.
This paper will outline my creative research: a devising process with five women investigating feminist methodologies, processes and power structures. We asked, how does gender affect a rehearsal dynamic? How can we navigate the opportunity to speak versus the ability to speak? We are determined to find solutions to these questions, and hope to craft new ways for women to create belonging spaces for themselves in devised theatre in New Zealand.