Episode 252: Monumental - F-Bomb

Persistent and Nasty

Elaine chats with co-founder of F-Bomb Theatre co Rachel O’Regan about their latest project Monumental which is a walking tour of the imagined statues of five women from history and their connection to Edinburgh. We also chat with two of the writers Hannah Low, Emery Schaffer and the director Emily Ingram. F-Bomb are working with Edinburgh 900 celebrations to brig Monumental to the audiences. In a city that has more statues to animals than to women join these incredible writers as they celebrate these inspirational women. On from the 10th – 17th May 2025 TICKET LINK HERE MONUMENTAL Edinburgh has nearly 200 monuments and statues dotted around the city, showcasing key historical figures in the city’s history - but where are all the women? Part of the Edinburgh 900 celebrations, Monumental is a new extraordinary theatrical walking tour that showcases the real ‘herstory’ of Edinburgh. Produced by multi-award-winning Edinburgh-based feminist theatre company F-Bomb Theatre, the experience will take audiences around the city to explore the lives of five women who deeply impacted, lived, and worked in Edinburgh. The project was conceived by playwright and producer Rachel O’Regan after reading Sara Sheridan’s book Where Are The Women?; O’Regan learned that the city has more statues of animals than of named women, and began asking herself: ‘Where are the monuments to our real-life heroines?’. Taking on historical figures in the show range from Clara Marguerite Christian, the first black woman to study at the University of Edinburgh, to Scotland’s youngest suffragette, Bessie Watson. Their stories will be interpreted by five early-career female playwrights based in Edinburgh, including Rachel O’Regan, playwright, dramaturg, and producer, Hannah Low, Jaïrus Obayomi, Kirin Saeed and Emery Schaffer. A brave recentring of women across time, Monumental highlights not only the accomplishments of women in Edinburgh over the past 900 years - but also gives a new platform to the emerging talent of the future. Monumental will take place throughout May 2025 across the City of Edinburgh as part of the Edinburgh 900 celebrations commissioned by Edinburgh City Council. F-Bomb Theatre is currently holding a raffle for pay-what-you-can tickets on their website - fbombtheatre.co.uk/monumental OUR WEBSITE - www.persistentandnasty.co.uk Persistent and Nasty join the CEC community to create a safe space & build a community for those who are marginalised in any way in the arts. Link for our Zoom meeting with Creative Entrepreneurs Club https://creativeentrepreneursclub.co.uk/ MAIL BAG – you can write and ask us industry related questions or general questions or maybe you have a hot take you want to chare, some tea you want to spill or a topic you want discussed on the podcast. To be included in the Mail Bag podcast email [email protected] with subject line MAIL BAG or slide into the DM’s. IPA GUIDES: HIPA GUIDES Equity Toolkit: Link Stellar Quines: Link Persistent Pal & Nasty Hero - Pals and Hero Membership Email – [email protected] Instagram - @persistentandnasty Twitter - @PersistentNasty Coffee Morning Eventbrite - Coffee Morning Tickets LINKTREE - LINKTR.EE Resources Samaritans - Rape Crisis Scotland - Rape Crisis UK ArtsMinds - BAPAM Freelancers Make Theatre Work Stonewall UK - Trevor Project - Mermaids UK Switchboard LGBT+ - GATE PLANNED PARENTHOOD DONATE - DONATE ABORTION SUPPORT NETWORK UK - ASN.COM- DONATE