She Writes is 17Percent’s Whitstable-based, popular showcase of new playwriting by women. For Lounge on the Farm they are happy to present a selection of new short plays by Kentish women writers, entitled ‘Maid in Kent’ on Friday, 6th July.

The show at Lounge on the Farm will feature five of their most popular short plays, all written by Kentish authors. The plays chosen have aliens, a sea monster, a psycho-killer, a date that goes horribly wrong and a pair of women whose interest in celebrity cookware goes too far.

She Writes is a showcase organised by 17Percent, an organisation run by Kent-based playwright Sam Hall, which supports and promotes female writers. Currently only 17% of the plays which get onto UK stages are written by women. She Writes brings women’s playwriting to a bigger audience and shows that women’s writing is as diverse, funny, touching, unexpected, and lyrical, as are women themselves.

Of the show, Sam said, “We chose these five plays as they are all a lot of fun and showcase a range of styles and topics. One of the things that women’s writing is often accused of is being ‘domestic’; I hope these five varied pieces will show that’s really not the case. They have also all been written by Kent-based playwrights. For Lounge on the Farm, we wanted this local connection, as the first woman to earn a living from writing, the playwright Aphra Behn, was born in Kent, and she paved the way for us all, as women writers. The cast and team (who are also all Kent-based), are really excited to be part of the festival and looking forward to it.”

A sketch of Aphra Behn by George Scharf from a portrait believed to be lost. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

17percent also host a She Writes this Wednesday 20th June at the Horsebridge Centre in Whitstable. ‘Lucky Dip’ is programmed by Sam Hall and directed by Sarah Davies and will showcase eight short plays plus a lucky dip, including the following:

Claire Booker – Lost Property
Sue Donaldson – Life after life
Alice Gregg – Not the allotment
Lucy Kaufman – Sexbomb (extract)
Elinor Perry-Smith – Crumble
Helen Shay – Taste

7pm 20 June 2012
Tickets £5/£4 concessions
The Horsebridge Cafe, Whitstable, Kent CT5 1AF
01227 281174
http://www.horsebridge-centre.org.uk

Contact Sam Hall at 17Percent, 17percentcampaign@gmail.com / 07906 705301 if you require any more information regarding She Writes or 17percent.