FROME Town Council is marking International Women’s Day (IWD) with a series of events designed to open up conversations and raise awareness, and bring people together.

International Women’s Day (IWD) is marked every year on March 8, and is a global event celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women and girls. It is also a moment to reflect on the progress made towards gender equality, and the work that still needs to be done.

On Saturday March 7, Lou Featherstone, motivational speaker, influencer and performer will be at Frome Saturday market, with her 32-foot vintage American bus ‘Susie’, sharing information about Frome’s White Ribbon campaign to stop violence against women and girls, while spreading the message of the vital positive role of male allyship.

Space will be provided to chat, reflect and engage while town councillors will be available at the market for their regular ‘Meet the Councillor’ session from 10am to 12pm.

On Sunday March 8, the town council will mark International Women’s Day 2026 with a free screening of the Emma Rice Company’s ‘Blue Beard’ at the Merlin at 7pm. A donation of £3 is suggested, which will support women’s safety initiatives and White Ribbon activity in Frome.

Blue Beard is a critically acclaimed feminist reinterpretation of the French folktale, and explores themes of consent, violence and vengeance in the company’s signature style.

Lucy McMahon, a member of the town council’s White Ribbon Steering Group, said: “We’d like to say a huge thank you to the Emma Rice Company for allowing us to screen ‘Blue Beard’ for International Women’s Day.

“There’s nothing more powerful than a well-told story to start important conversations, and their generosity is truly in the spirit of this year’s IWD theme ‘Give to Gain’.

“We’re also excited to welcome Lou Featherstone back after her brilliant show at the Merlin in 2024, and to hear what comes out of this year’s Lightning Talks.

“There are several other projects in the pipeline, as part of the council’s White Ribbon accreditation programme, including new activities with local schools, sports clubs and businesses throughout the coming months, and the full implementation of the WalkSafe app’s ‘Safety Map’.”

Kicking-off the programme of events is the annual ‘Lightning Talks’. Submissions are now open for ideas for a 5-minute ‘lightning talk’, open to anyone with an idea to share to ‘touch, move or inspire’ within the International Women's Day 2026 ‘Give to Gain’ theme. The date for Lightning Talks will be announced soon.

Lucy added: “Join us for this year’s IWD activities and find out more about how you can get involved with local action to make Frome a safer place for women and girls.”

Apply to give a five-minute Lightning Talk at: bit.ly/lightning-talks-2026


Book a free ticket (suggested donation £3) to the screening of ‘Blue Beard’ at The Merlin Theatre at bit.ly/blue-beard-iwd-26

Visit the Saturday market to see Lu Featherstone in LuLand’s Self-Love Revolution tour bus outside the library from 10am to 3pm on Saturday March 7.