#NowFunding: New Irish equality documentary Them’s The Breaks

Now funding on Fundit.ie is Them’s The Breaks, an exciting and provocative new documentary which seeks to expose and examine gender inequality in Irish Theatre and the Arts.

Inspired by the #WakingTheFeminists movement, comes a documentary about equality, voices, and walking miles in other people’s shoes. Them’s The Breaks critiques and explores the many reasons and ways women have been forgotten both in our national history and on our national stage.

The figures speak for themselves. One female artist out of ten programmed for The Abbey Theatre’s Waking The Nation centenary programme, demonstrating an overwhelming 90% favour towards male artists’ work. According to figures by Brenda Donohue, of 320 plays staged in our National Theatre between the years 1995-2014, only 36 were written by women (full production single author).

What does this say about the importance placed on women’s stories and voices in Ireland, past and present? One hundred years since the 1916 Rising, and women’s stories and experiences are still being airbrushed out.

Equality is a word like any other. Some people use it, some people don’t. Them’s The Breaks seeks to examine why this is and ask how we, as a progressive society may begin to create a more inclusive and equal Ireland.

The team behind the film is made up of Sarah Barr (Producer), Sarah Corcoran (Director), Stephen Elliott (Writer) and Aoife Kelly (Producer). Barr, Corcoran and Elliott are Alumnus of DCU Masters in Film and Television Studies and have developed a keen interest in socially engaged documentaries which have the ability to shed light and affect change.

Using Irish Crowdfunding platform Fundit.ie the team today (March 8th) launched their funding campaign in order to raise essential funds for Post Production, Archive Footage and Equipment rental, among other necessities. The film has already begun production and this crowdfunding campaign marks the first step in completing the project for distribution.

The team are asking for the public’s support in bringing this documentary to life. In order to support this exciting endeavour please follow the film on Fundit.ie, Facebook, and Twitter.