Meryl Streep and Christine Baranski have become the latest Hollywood stars to lend their support to a new campaign calling for equal rights for Irish women involved in the theatre.
It follows the publication last month of the Abbey Theatre programme of plays for the 1916 centenary - only one of which was written by a woman.
The board and director of the Abbey Theatre have acknowledged that their 2016 programme does not represent gender equality.
Meryl Streep, Christine Baranski, Laoisa Sexton and @lisatk are #WakingTheFeminists @WTFeminists @lianbell pic.twitter.com/dJyOIl7k5P
— Lisa Tierney-Keogh (@lisatk) November 12, 2015
I STAND WITH YOU WOMEN IN THEATRE #IRELAND ?????? #THEABBEYTHEATRE pic.twitter.com/gGkCbNdAFZ
— Debra Messing (@DebraMessing) November 8, 2015
We have all let this happen . We have to end it -Today. Female director tells #WakingTheFeminists at @AbbeyTheatre pic.twitter.com/aqIgUmUXbH
— Orla Barry (@orla_barry) November 12, 2015
The board says it "commits to work with the director and new incoming directors to develop a comprehensive policy and detailed plan to help address gender equality with the cooperation and input of the wider Irish theatre community".
Now a campaign called 'Waking The Feminists' is calling for action to be taken to give equal rights for female artists - including pay parity.
One of those involved in the campaign is Maria Fleming.
She says the campaign has been endorsed by women and men in the arts.
