Celebrate International Women’s Day at GRRRLS’ NIGHT OUT, Manila’s first-ever variety show showcasing an all-female and queer roster of performers from across Manila’s thriving alternative arts scene. The event will feature a supersized lineup of up-and-coming performers such as Faye Yu (music), Super P (music), DJ Honey (music), Lady Boses (stand-up comedy), and Burlesque PH (performance art).
Inspiring Inclusion
The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index ranked the Philippines 16th out of 146 countries in 2023 (in 2022 it was 19th). While recent data illustrates significant strides being made to bridge the gender gap in our country, it does not capture the biases that remain prevalent and continue to impact opportunities for women in the Philippines. There is much work to be done at a grassroots level, including in the performing arts space.
“Manila has flourished as a hub for emerging alternatives to mainstream entertainment in the last decade,” said event organizer and co-host, Veronica Litton. “For example, local creators such as stand-up comedians, professional wrestlers, and burlesque performers have found a supportive audience and garnered critical acclaim, but there are still only a handful of spaces where female and queer performers, and their audiences are the focal point.”
Litton is a writer, stand-up comedian, and content producer, and co-founded the Manila Wrestling Federation in 2015. She and her creative partner – award-winning content strategist and feminist stand-up comedian (who founded Hong Kong’s first all-femme stand-up comedy troupe), Fran Ayala-Rock – are co-producing and co-hosting GRRRLS’ NIGHT OUT, which has been lovingly curated to not only showcase female/queer artists in a variety show, but will also feature female-led and ally businesses such as sanitary products Nala Woman, pleasure brand Ilya, Miss Pokes Tattoo, Bao Artisan Candles, Crazy Carabao Beer, and more in a night bazaar that will run throughout the evening.
Invest in Women, Accelerate Progress
The theme for International Women’s Day 2024 is “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress” – Investing in women inspires others to understand and value women’s inclusion, and forge a better world.
“There’s still a lot of work to be done when it comes to creating more inclusive spaces for female and queer artists in the Philippines,” said Ayala-Rock. “Manila has such a breadth of unparalleled female talent across the alternative arts spaces that people are only whispering about. GRRRLS’ NIGHT OUT is about putting them center stage so we can make some proper noise for them in the name of inclusion.”
GRRRLS’ NIGHT OUT is happening at 6 pm on March 9, 2024, at 123Block in Mandala Park, Mandaluyong. Tickets are now available online: https://ticket2me.net/event/21715.
