The 12th edition of the Women on Stage Festival has been launched at the Francis Gag Theater, followed by the first artistic performance: Metanoia the Butterfly’s Omen. A successful first evening.
The small theater in the old town, Francis Gag, is packed this Friday evening for the opening of the Women on Stage Festival. On stage, the festival director, Françoise Nahon, emotional, thanks the audience and acknowledges the solidarity established to maintain this 12th edition, threatened from all sides. Firstly, financially, and then in a particular context related to the COVID-19 virus, which is leading people to avoid gatherings. Yet tonight, the audience is present. This is good news since for every ticket sold, 1 euro is donated to the Women’s Solidarity Association that fights against domestic violence.
Are there men in the audience?
“It is a battle for women, with women, and with men,” concludes Françoise Nahon, specifying that the festival is based on inclusivity. The organizer puts emphasis on not forgetting the male presence in her speech and highlighting their collaboration. “There are men who work daily, and it is also thanks to them that we can lead our fight,” reminds Maty Diouf, in charge of Women’s Rights and the fight against discrimination and harassment in the City of Nice. Furthermore, there is indeed a man on the stage, Jean-Luc Gagliolo, municipal councilor, representing Christian Estrosi. Tonight, we’re far from a 50/50 balance, but for once, it’s in the other direction.
Two patrons for twice as much culture
Alongside her, Muriel Mayette-Holtz, this year’s patron, and Olympia Alberti, honorary patron since the beginning, each share some anecdotes. The new director of the National Theater of Nice jokes about today’s date. “We are on March 6th, exactly 40 years ago, the first woman, Marguerite Yourcenar, entered the most misogynistic institution in the country, the French Academy.” In turn, the writer Olympia Alberti praises the initiative of giving women a voice and especially amplifying it. “The Women on Stage Festival is a renewed miracle for 12 years,” she celebrates before letting her final words resonate in the room like a sweet melody: “Good news, it’s not about to stop, women are ready for eternity.”
