Join us for the London premiere screening of Women Talking – Muscle: a question of power, a new short film made by filmmaker Kilian Waters in partnership with theatre artist and writer Anna Furse, filmed at Chats Palace earlier this year.

Originally conceived as part of an immersive experience, commissioned by Crawford Arts Gallery, Cork this engrossing , challenging short film is structured round the personal journeys of six women who work professionally with their muscularity. By engaging with society’s contemporary and damaging obsessions with beauty and perfection, strength and power, Women Talking – Muscle: a question of power raises specific awareness of women and muscle, and how ‘the weaker sex’ gains agency through the acquisition of physical strength.

The premiere screening will take place at Castle Cinema, Hackney (https://thecastlecinema.com/) on  Thurs 14 September, 6.30pm and will be followed by a lively panel discussion (guests to be announced closer to event date).

The Project

Muscle: a question of power is an immersive experience from renowned artist and theatre-maker, Anna Furse, that takes us on an audio-guided journey through Crawford Art Gallery’s historic collection of Canova Casts – reproductions of sculptures from antiquity, such as Adonis, Bathing Venus and the Belvedere Torso, commissioned by Pope Pius VII as a gift for the Prince Regent of England, later King George IV. Designed to bring us up close and personal with these ancient Classical forms, Muscle is an invitation to contemplate the idealised nude and its legacy today. The viewing of these art works – which were once objects of international relations and teaching – is not only a visual experience, but one which engages viscerally and imaginatively.

The Film:

Created by filmmaker Kilian Waters in partnership with Anna Furse, the film is structured round the personal journeys of six women who work professionally with their muscularity.

the dancer-choreographer: Emilyn Claid   Queer dance artist, performer, choreographer, director, writer, teacher, psychotherapist. Now in her 8th decade Emilyn is author of FALLING through Dance and Life (Bloomsbury 2021) and is currently touring the solo show UNTITLED.

the para-athlete: Stef Reid MBE  British Paralympic long jumper and sprinter whose titles include World Champion, four-time Paralympian, triple Paralympic medallist, and five-time world record holder. Reid has a degree in biochemistry, works as an international speaker.

the soldier: SSgt. Louise Banton Recent Veteran of the British Army, Louise Banton completed a full 22 years service in the Royal Artillery as a drone specialist and logistics manager. She is a receiver of the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) in 2022 from the late Queen Elizabeth’s last honours list.

the pole-dancer: Maddie Burdon Queer performance artist, pole dance instructor, and sex worker’s rights activist, Maddie’s work addresses themes of sexuality and gender as she aims to smash societal stigma one eight-inch-heeled step at a time.

the bodybuilder: D’NYCE Women’s health coach and Pro Body Building competitor in the UK with numerous wins in the Bikini Figure categories of the Pure Elite Federation & British Natural Bodybuilding Federation/2Bros competitions. Denise has many years training previously in Wing Chung, 2nd Dan achievement in Kick Boxing and Thai Boxing.

the top fashion model: Lily McMenam Artist and model Lily has a diploma in mime and physical theatre from L’École Jacques Lecoq and a Masters in Performance Making from Goldsmiths. Her work has been shown at The Serpentine Gallery, The Horse Hospital, Cabinet Gallery, Münchner Kammerspiele, Schinkel Pavilion, KW Berlin and Paris Internationale.