This year’s International Women’s Day theme is #InspireInclusion, and we can all do our bit to help redress the continued gender bias and help create spaces where all women are respected and included. It’s also a time to celebrate the amazing women in our lives and all over the world – not just on IWD, but every day. And there are plenty of IWD events in Brighton and Hove where you can do just that. We’ve already told you about Femfest’s brilliant line-up and The Old Market’s Reigning Women season, but here are some more things we reckon you’ll love.
Indulge in a whole day of creative wellness
Run Like The Wolf have been running creative wellness workshops for almost two years now and we’ve been to a fair few and loved them all. And for IWD they’ve dreamt up a gorgeous all-day event to raise money for the brilliant Brighton’s Women’s Centre. Effortlessly bridging the gap between wellness and art, you’ll find short talks from a number of inspiring women, such as The Social Society’s Toni Finnimore and best-selling kids author and podcaster Alice Clover, aka the Farting Feminist, and three joyful workshops – boob clay modelling, yoga and movement, and no-experience-required singing. Plus Boul Kitchen are whipping up the day’s delicious lunch and snacks (we’re hoping for the heavenly babka, IYKYK), AND your ticket price includes an exciting goodie bag. And even if you can’t make it, don’t miss out on entering their fundraising raffle for a chance to win wolf-loads of excellent prizes, from massages to PT sessions and nights out in London.
Saturday 9th March; 9.30am – 5pm; £62.46
Projects, The Lanes, Brighton
runlikethewolf.com
See a heartwarming comedy about mother-daughter relationships
A joyful comedy that was created in conversation with hundreds of young people across the UK, Wish You Weren’t Here looks at family relationships, body image and the agony of growing up. Lorna’s going away with her 16-year-old daughter, Mila, to what used to be the pair’s favourite seaside town. But it’s fair to say the two aren’t quite on the same page any more. Lorna wants to go out and reconnect with Mila, while Mila just wants the world to stop burning.
Thursday 7th – Friday 8th March; from £10
Brighton Dome, Church Street, Brighton, BN1 1UE
brightondome.org
Help put the ale in female at these beery events
The Bitter Women Brewery have teamed up with the Beer Cadets for a chat about women in beer, followed by a guided tasting of some of Abyss’ beers at their Lewes taproom. A mere fiver gets you three super-tasty brews. And if you want to get bendy before you get, um, spendy, the Bitter Women gals are also hosting an all-level IWD yoga session at one of Lewes’ other excellent breweries, Beak. Tickets get you 20 percent off your post-yoga beers. The class kicks off at 11am or travel together with some soon-to-be-friends from Brighton station at 9.45am.
Saturday 9th March; 11am (yoga) and 2pm (tasting); £10.25 and £5, respectively
Abyss Brewery + Tap, Unit 3 Davey’s Lane, Lewes, BN7 2BF
abyssbrewing.co.uk
Beak Brewery, Unit 14 Cliffe Industrial Estate, Lewes, BN8 6JL
bitterwomenbrewery.com
Get together, make a beer, have fun
More beery goodness! The excellent Hand Brew are back with their IWD collab brew bonanza for women and non-binary people and, as ever, it’s a goodie. If you’ve ever been interested in or fancied working in the beer and brewing industry, then this is for you. As well as the opportunity to meet other beer enthusiasts and professionals and make a beer together in a friendly, inclusive atmosphere, here’s what else you can expect: beery talks a-plenty, a book club discussing India Knight’s Darling, Cherry Shakewell giving it her all with a burlesque workshop, a postcard station with our fave Bitter Women, plus performances from rapper Phonetic and poet and comedian Felix Orlo. And that’s just for starters. And did we mention it’s all free and that dogs and little ones are welcome?
Friday 8th March, 9am – 8pm; free but please RSVP
Hand Brew Co, Unit 6a, Garcia Trading Estate, Canterbury Road, Worthing, BN13 1AL
book tickets here
Have an inspiration-fuelled lunch
Fashion designer and confidence coach Elif Köse is hosting a three-course lunch at waterside Turkish restaurant Aydo Lounge on Friday. She’s curated a feast of talks from inspirational trailblazing women, who you’ll get to chat to afterwards over live music, bubbles, and special surprises.
Friday 8th March; midday – 3pm; £49
Aydo Lounge, The Waterfront, Brighton, BN2 5WA
Book tickets
Listen to some stories
An entirely different type of event, this is a two-part show where traditional storytellers A-bee Palache and Jon Norman Mason take a look at gender relations through the still-very-relevant tales of Lilith (thought to be Adam’s first wife) and Blodeuwedd (a woman made of flowers who was turned into an owl for betraying her husband in Welsh mythology. Yikes). Please note the show’s trigger warnings: discussion around pregnancy loss, infant death, infertility and sexual violence. All profits from the show will go to support Survivors’ Network.
Thursday 7th March; 7pm; from £3.50
Watch online or in person at The Rose Hill, Rose Hill Terrace, Brighton, BN1 4JL
therosehill.co.uk
Make a splash this IWD
Fancy being a part of something pretty big? Adventure blogger PinkNicky, aka Nicky Chisholm, is aiming to gather all South coast swimmers in one place to put on the biggest open-water swim in the UK this Saturday for IWD. It’s the perfect opportunity to get your day off to a bracing start and join some like-minded people for a big photo (and a safety briefing) before plunging/dipping your toes into the cool Brighton waters. And, added bonus: everyone who books a free ticket will be entered into a competition to win a Dry Robe and a UK swim retreat. So, grab some layers, some sparkles and some friends and get ready to make a splash!
Saturday 9th March; 3pm; free
Beach Box Sauna, Banjo Groyne, Madeira Drive, Brighton, BN2 1EN
Book tickets
Celebrate women at a fun-packed family day
The Brighton Women’s Centre are again hosting the city’s biggest International Women’s Day celebration in collaboration with Brighton Dome this weekend. The focus is on celebrating and inspiring women, all while raising awareness of the incredible work being done to support vulnerable women across Sussex. You can look forward to a day filled with inspiring speakers and debates, engaging workshops (singing, Bollywood dancing, storytelling, public speaking, yoga, music-making, and loads more), exciting arts and crafts (feminist origami is the one), powerful campaigns, and plenty of fun for the whole family. You can find the full programme here. Plus, all talks and workshops are pay-as-you-feel (suggested donations are £5), with every penny going towards supporting the important work of BWC. You can register from 30 minutes before each workshop – don’t be late, places get snapped up super quickly!
Saturday 11th March; 10am – 4pm; free
Brighton Dome, Church Street, Brighton, BN1 1UE
brightondome.org
Cheer on kickass women with a month of kickass events
Co-working space Platf9rm have turned their annual Kickass Women conference into a month-long celebratory programme. Think comedy, music, interactive panels, workshops, and more, like Brighton Girl’s Inspire Inclusion all-day networking and learning event on the Friday and an evening with hilarious broadcaster Bibi Lynch at the end of the month.
From Thursday 7th March; various times and prices
Platf9rm, Hove Town Hall, Church Road, Hove, BN3 2AF
platf9rm.com
Unleash your inner artist
Feeling creative? Then head down to the Feminist Bookshop for a fun life-drawing class in celebration of IWD. Artist Bella Franks will be there to guide and inspire you so you can let your creativity flow in a fun and supportive environment surrounded by gorgeous books. They’ve got the basic drawing materials covered, but feel free to bring along your favourite art supplies if there’s something you particularly want to work with.
Wednesday 6th March; 7pm; £16.96
48 Upper North Street, Brighton, BN1 3FH
thefeministbookshop.com
Listen to She Rebel Radio
Set up by lawyer-turned-coach Lulu Minns, the community-driven She Rebel Radio podcast is back for IWD with 10 episodes across 10 days. Designed to inspire, educate and empower women, each one features a fascinating conversation with a woman who is breaking boundaries in her chosen field, such as round-the-world sailor Tracy Edwards. And if you need another book club in your life, she’s also hosting an online one for IWD where you’ll discuss We, Gillian Anderson’s and Jennifer Nadel’s manifesto for women across four Mondays from 4th March. You can have a read of our recent interview with Lulu here.
Listen here or join the book circle here
luluminns.com
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