"I wish I had seen a play like this when I was 17, I think I would have reached a point of genuine empowerment within my femininity a lot quicker if I had ..."

Meet Brigitte Freeme, writer, director and co-producer of I am Woman, Hear Me. Brigitte is currently in her third year of study at Queensland Conservatorium’s Bachelor of Acting and has a deep passion for storytelling. 

Tell us about the show in 100 words or less

I am Woman, Hear Me is a play set in and around a courthouse, comprising the stories of nine different women, each one a walking contradiction. The company of this production are passionate about bringing a three-dimensional woman to the stage. Film, TV and theatre have been starved of this for far too long and we wish to share and celebrate the complexities of women, not repress these unique qualities.

Anywhere Festival takes place anywhere but a theatre. Tell us about your venue. What is it about your space that adds to your audience experience?

Our venue is the University of Queensland’s Senate Room. We chose this space as it is indicative of a courtroom/house in which our play is set. Yet more than this, the clinical and patriarchal feel to the room is challenged by the strong feminine stories within the play and it is this act of rebellion that feels so exciting.

What is your creative process like?

We are all in our third year of study at Queensland Conservatorium’s Bachelor of Acting so we are very much all in this together. Brigitte is the primary writer and director, however each woman has contributed their own voice to the process and we have worked together to make this production what it is today. We are not shy when it comes to experimenting with the pieces so we always ensure the rehearsal space is a safe one, and if an idea doesn’t work, we move on, always wanting to serve the stories we are telling.

Brigitte Freeman

Tell us your origin story. How did your show start?

This play was birthed at Wynnum Fringe Festival in November of 2020. Brigitte had a seedling of an idea so she took a chance and submitted it to WFF and when we were accepted, we got to work. We learned a lot from that experience and it is now in its second rendition and it’s bigger and better than ever! Each of the stories you will hear in this play are based upon real life encounters. These are real women we come across every day. So really, the origins of this play are in the women we know and see around us.

Who is your perfect audience member? Who is going to LOVE this event?

We want everyone to see this play, naturally, as it discusses an important and current matter. The people who would love this event most, however, would be those young women who are in their final years of school or just graduating. I wish I had seen a play like this when I was 17, I think I would have reached a point of genuine empowerment within my femininity a lot quicker if I had, though I am grateful for the journey I have been on so far.

Is there anything else we simply MUST know about the show?

If you’re not already sold, you should know that this play is funny, this play is serious and it’s everything else in between. We guarantee a delightful trip to the theatre where you will weep at the harsh truths of what it means to be a woman, and cry with laughter at ridiculous phallic jokes. We look forward to seeing you there.

‘I am Woman, Hear Me’ plays at the 2021 Anywhere Festival on 16 & 23 May at the Senate Room, University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus.