Ladies of the Stave organised over 30 aspiring female musical directors and musicians over the weekend to address the gender balance of London’s West End shows.
Wendy Gadian, a former Musical Director, created Ladies of the Stave in 2018 following the publication of a Musician’s Union survey. The survey reported that barely 10% of players in West End orchestra pits were women.
The group set out to address the challenges women face looking for a job in the industry. Historically, musical directors have been hired by industry ‘fixers’ who are commonly male. They also tend to hire the same musicians via small, male-dominated networks.
Through networking with industry leaders and connecting other female musicians to one another, Wendy hopes to tackle the issue of access. She said “these conferences are about sharing who we are, inspiring and training”, to address the issue of gender inequality at the grassroots level.
Emily Huxter, who hopes to work as an MD in the West End in the future said events like this “were really important as they were open and free, especially in an industry that often feels closed and about who you know”.
Ladies of the Stave: The Next Five Years
The event, hosted by the Other Palace Theatre and supported by the Musicians Union, included two panels looking at the future of the sector. Industry figures, female musical directors and female musicians discussed currently working in the West End.
They highlighted the challenges faced by women, including the tough choice between family and career, and the need for the industry to provide better support for women.
Aspiring musicians also enjoyed a masterclass on voice and acting led by Wendy, showcasing the role of a musical director in vocal coaching. Two students from the Central School of Speech and Drama, Tia and Jack, participated in the workshop, performing and receiving direction from Wendy.
Tia singing during masterclass one: working with voice and the actor
A look to the future for female musicians
While the industry is showing signs of change, exemplified by productions like Six the Musical featuring an all-female and non-binary band, there is still work to be done.
Recent statistics from the Musicians Union indicate a record high of 27% of women in West End bands. Despite this progress, Wendy remains committed to advocating for equality in the theatre realm.
Addressing the issue of visibility, Wendy said, “If you can’t see it, it’s difficult to be it”. She believes that future events organised by Ladies of the Stave will empower female musical directors and musicians to network and build confidence.
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Standfirst
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HeadlineFemale musical directors and musicians meet to address gender equality
Short HeadlineWomen in music gather to discuss gender equality
StandfirstThe number of women in West End bands stands at 27%, yet more needs to be done to encourage fairer representation.
Ladies of the Stave organised over 30 aspiring female musical directors and musicians over the weekend to address the gender balance of London’s West End shows.
Wendy Gadian, a former Musical Director, created Ladies of the Stave in 2018 following the publication of a Musician’s Union survey. The survey reported that barely 10% of players in West End orchestra pits were women.
The group set out to address the challenges women face looking for a job in the industry. Historically, musical directors have been hired by industry ‘fixers’ who are commonly male. They also tend to hire the same musicians via small, male-dominated networks.
Through networking with industry leaders and connecting other female musicians to one another, Wendy hopes to tackle the issue of access. She said “these conferences are about sharing who we are, inspiring and training”, to address the issue of gender inequality at the grassroots level.
Emily Huxter, who hopes to work as an MD in the West End in the future said events like this “were really important as they were open and free, especially in an industry that often feels closed and about who you know”.
Ladies of the Stave: The Next Five Years
The event, hosted by the Other Palace Theatre and supported by the Musicians Union, included two panels looking at the future of the sector. Industry figures, female musical directors and female musicians discussed currently working in the West End.
They highlighted the challenges faced by women, including the tough choice between family and career, and the need for the industry to provide better support for women.
Aspiring musicians also enjoyed a masterclass on voice and acting led by Wendy, showcasing the role of a musical director in vocal coaching. Two students from the Central School of Speech and Drama, Tia and Jack, participated in the workshop, performing and receiving direction from Wendy.
Tia singing during masterclass one: working with voice and the actor
A look to the future for female musicians
While the industry is showing signs of change, exemplified by productions like Six the Musical featuring an all-female and non-binary band, there is still work to be done.
Recent statistics from the Musicians Union indicate a record high of 27% of women in West End bands. Despite this progress, Wendy remains committed to advocating for equality in the theatre realm.
Addressing the issue of visibility, Wendy said, “If you can’t see it, it’s difficult to be it”. She believes that future events organised by Ladies of the Stave will empower female musical directors and musicians to network and build confidence.
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