The first event of the day, and we’re talking to fearless females who founded their own companies which culturally enrich their communities. From 12noon-1pm, meet Medway’s Creative Women.

The conversation will be chaired by our very own Festival Director Jaye Nolan, a member of Medway’s cultural and creative community since 2010. A freelance writer since 2007, Jaye founded the festival in 2011, as a website resource to collate writing opportunities, but this quickly turned into live events – and here we are, 14 years later!

Lynne Parker decided twenty years ago that women were funny, after taking exception to a man telling her they weren’t. She promptly founded Funny Women CIC and set out to prove it. It’s just entering its twenty second year, with community projects, business training and awards among its many strands dedicated to empowering women in comedy and life in general.

Sue Davis, a freelance web content trainer also joins the panel. There is a major digital divide between the sexes when it comes to Information and
Communication Technologies (ICT) around the world. Sue will share how she overcame the obstacles to create her own niche.

Nancy Hirst founded Icon Theatre in 2002 to develop quality, accessible and participatory theatre projects and productions. Having trained at the National Theatre Studio, she previously worked as a freelance director on a range of large-scale, community and education projects at Opera North, the Royal Opera House, Yvonne Arnaud, Soho, BAC, Arcola and Young Vic Theatres.

Creative Medway Women for Medway Women's History Month