Join WOW Founder Director Jude Kelly as she opens the festival with special guests, celebrating the North East in all its glory from the proud history of the railways to the stories of local people driving things forward. It’s about where we’ve come from, where we’re going, and everything that makes this place special.

Speakers include: WOW Founder Jude Kelly CBE; WOW CEO Colette Bailey; Girls, Theys and Slays Choir; Dame Irene Hays; S&DR200 Festival Director Niccy Hallifax andCarolyn Ball

Auditorium

Feminism isn’t just for teenagers and grown ups! Find out what you can do to fight for equality through fun mini-activities in our drop-in creative space. If you’re a budding young equality champion who believes we should all have the same opportunities whatever our gender, these mini-workshops are perfect for you!

WOW Under 10’s Feminist Corners are an important part of WOW festivals across the globe. Through mini-drop in activities, we’ll explore gender equality, and share tips on how to start your very own campaign!

Join other kids your age to explore what equality means and discover what life is like for girls across the world. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

This space is open to Under 10’s of all genders – drop in at any time!

Led By: Cat Foley WOW

Children’s Library, Clayport Library

Please note – as this is a drop in event for young people, attendees do not need a festival wristband to access this event.

Join Sophie to find out about her research into the hidden visual histories of women’s work in Sunderland and the importance of Dusty Deste’s contribution. The session will explore the concept behind the pop-up exhibition, using editing and sequencing activities. It will conclude with an overview of how Deste’s photographs will be used in a co-creation project with former female employees at Pyrex to create an inclusive catalogue of her work in the Historic England Archive.

The exhibition will be on display all day.

This project is supported by Historic England, working in partnership with Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens, NEPN and the University of Sunderland.

Led by: Sophie Piper

Gallery

Step outside for tea, cake, and conversation, or join in simple acts of kindness – from card-making for women in detention centres to little moments of joy. The Curious Caravan is a small van with a big heart, focusing on connection, creativity, and community.

Millennium Square

From political backlash to media outrage, equity is in the crosshairs and some communities are feeling left behind. In this urgent panel we ask how we can lead with fairness when fairness is being contested and what do our communities really need to thrive and feel supported. Hear from the leaders who are doing the work as we ask what comes next for our communities?

Speakers include: West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin;Menisha Gela;Charlie Kemp; and Lola McEvoy MP

Auditorium

There is a code blue, Destiny escapes onto a prison roof.

It’s Bonfire Night, the country is exploding and so is Destiny.

The award-winning company behind Key Change (New York Times Critics’ Pick) and Sugar on BBC iPlayer, bring you Rupture. Created with women from HMP Low Newton, and based on true-life experiences, Rupture is their story about being mothers in prison.

“Absolutely incredible. Powerful and insightful. I feel I know so much more about the experiences of mothers in prison. As always there is a spirit of fight, togetherness and love.”Audience Member

Cinema 1

Hear from the people making change and offering inspiration right here in our local communities.

WOW Bites are short talks and stories, and sometimes soapbox moments, on a very wide range of subjects from the serious to the more zany. Some delivered by well-known local organisers, poets and activists and some you’ll never have heard of but have amazing stories about the things that matter the most.

Speakers include: Kelly Ensbury and Amy Walton from Urban Kaos; Laura Connolly from Clogbeatz; photographer Joanne Coates; author of Women of the Durham Coalfield Margaret Hedley; Founder of Taste of Africa Sade Sangowawa; Managing Director of EQ Advantage Julie Martin; UK’s leading AI Impact Strategist. Certified AI Consultant/Business Systems Architect/Workflow Designer Mitali Deypurkaystha

Cinema 2

Step into a world of colour and creativity in this relaxed Floral Painting Workshop. Surrounded by vases of fresh, seasonal blooms, you’ll be guided through techniques for creating beautiful floral patterns with ink.

Whether you’re picking up a brush for the first time or already love to paint, this workshop is designed to inspire and uplift. With gentle guidance and a calm atmosphere, it’s the perfect way to slow down and explore your creativity.

Led by: artist Katie Dyer

Clayport Library – Lower Ground Floor

You’ve seen the seasons change – now let’s talk about the climate.

Join a circle of wise, warm-hearted people for tea, talk, and inter-generational togetherness. At this Climate Café, there’s space to share your hopes, fears, and stories about the world we’re leaving behind – and the one we still have the power to shape.

Led by: cultural activist and campaigner Julie Ward

Café

Step into the vibrant world of Bollywood – a joyful celebration of movement, storytelling, and tradition. In this welcoming dance class, you’ll explore the beauty of Bollywood and the infectious energy of Bhangra. Led by an experienced instructor who’ll also share her own journey with South Asian dance and culture, this session offers more than just movement-it’s about connection, heritage, and joy. Whether you’re dancing for the first time or reconnecting with your roots, all are welcome.

Led by: Ravinda Cheema

Gallery

Come and hear some of the world’s most compelling speakers talk about the things they care about most. From Getrude Bell to alternative forms of justice for survivors – you’re sure to be challenged, inspired and more!

Speakers include: Dr Nina Burrowes; DrKate Craddock (Gertrude Bell), Teissy Easton, Dr Lucy Reynolds (We Are All Disabled), Freya Salway (Google).

Chaired by Dr Sandie Okoro OBE, an internationally recognised lawyer and former Senior Vice President and General Counsel at the World Bank Group; Chancellor of University of Birmingham; and Inaugural Chair of WOW.

Auditorium

Please note: This event may cover themes around child loss.

Step into Durham’s streets and discover the hidden stories of its women.

From rebel suffragists to everyday trailblazers, these walking tours shine a light on the women who shaped the city but were left out of the history books. Join us to unearth untold tales, reclaim forgotten spaces, and see Durham through a fresh, feminist lens.

Led by: The Story, Durham

Millennium Square (meet outside Gala Durham entrance)

The workshop invites participants to explore traditional Bengali Nakshi Kantha embroidery as a storytelling tool. Using a handcrafted embroidered book as a storytelling prompt, participants will engage with Nakshi Kantha motifs, share narratives, and create their own designs inspired by this centuries-old craft.

Led by: Rumana Yasmin and Mahmuda Ferdausi

Café

From missing toilets on site to missing out on promotions, women and non- binary people in STEM still face barriers that push too many out of the industry. This session shines a light on the everyday frustrations and bigger systemic problems and asks how we can fix them. Hear from the experts at the fore of the industry as they share sharp insights, honest stories, and bold ideas for making science, tech, engineering and maths a place where women don’t just get in, they stay and thrive.

Speakers Include: MP for Newcastle Upon Tyne Central and West Chi Onwurah; Major Projects Director at AECOM and Co-Chair of Women in Rail Yorkshire Isobel Crockford; CEO & Co-founder at Low Carbon Materials and Earthshot Prize Finalist Natasha Boulding; Train Control Monitoring System Engineer for Hitachi Rail Stephanie Dawson

Cinema 2

The Tees Women Poets believe a woman's place is on stage! This artist-led charity supports women of all ages and backgrounds to find their voice, take up space, and build their confidence through writing and performing poetry.

Café Stage

Behind every powerhouse woman is someone who’s tripped over her own handbag or laughed mid-speech. In this uplifting chat, Jude Kelly and Kim McGuinness swap stories of leadership, laughter and letting go, reminding us that strength doesn’t mean staying serious all the time.

Speakers include: Jude Kelly and Mayor of North East Combined Authority Kim McGuinness

Auditorium

Join us for a joyful, no-pressure class where we belt out a powerful protest song inspired by our own sense of justice, joy, and community as we take part in a mass sing-along! And if you're feeling brave (or just a little bit loud), perform with us at the festival later in the day!

No experience needed – just your lungs, your heart, and your will to sing for change.

Led by: Beccy Owen

Clayport Library – Lower Ground Floor

Learn the traditional art of clog dancing in the place where it all began – Durham!

Fused with the modern pulse of hip-hop and live drumming, join us as we tap and stomp our way through history, learning a new skill and preserving a piece of local history all at the same time.

Led by: Laura Connolly, featuring Carol Bowden

Gallery

Feeling like life’s a bit chaotic? Perfect – that’s exactly why you need to dance it out with Urban Kaos! Join us for an uplifting dance workshop where all levels come together to turn messy energy into pure movement and joy!

This session is open to all ages and abilities.

Workshop facilitators: Urban Kaos founders, Kelly Ensbury and Amy Walton

Studio 1

Join The Consent Collective for their live gameshow How to be Good in Bed. Expect to learn and laugh as panellists compete to win the accolade of being good in bed in the game show that touches on pleasure, consent and relationships in all the right ways (as long as they are enthusiastically consenting)!

This session is 16+

Led by: Dr Nina Burrowes and Cynthia Ellis with Dr Sandie Okoro OBE, Niccy Hallifax, Maya Torres and Rosin Crowley Linton.

Cinema 1

Celebrate the heart, soul, and stories of our communities through powerful snippets from some of the North East’s most exciting theatre shows today. Raw, real, and full of spirit-this is a night of local voices, shared experiences, and unforgettable moments. Come together, feel the energy, and be part of something special.

Featuring Gala Durham Youth Theatre, DrKate Craddock, Luca Rutherford, Maryam Ali, Rachel Stockdale, Roisin Crowley Linton and Vici Wreford-Sinnott.

Cinema 2

You’re invited to mischievously recraft ideas about Disability, gender, and climate emergency using drag costumes and props made from recycled, reused and natural materials. Inspired by mythical creatures that encourage us to expand our imaginations beyond the binary, join us to collage your very own mini mythical drag creature and tiny climate emergency placards, keeping your hands busy and minds buzzing!

Led By: Lady Kitt

Café

Grab a rubber mallet and join SAWDUST outside the Gala to hammer, slot, and assemble your own beautiful flatpack furniture, creating pop up community seating that everyone can enjoy. Fun, hands-on, and interactive, learn a new skill and help build spots for friends and passersbys to gather, connect, and make the outdoors a little more welcoming!

Millennium Square

Key elements of LGBTQIA+ culture, art and activism often join forces to make change happen.

Work with Curious Arts to create your own mini march banner to express your pride or hopes for the future.

From equal rights or the climate emergency, more school holidays or a later bedtime - whatever you’re passionate about, channel your creativity and share it through a march-worthy mini banner!

Children’s Library, Clayport Library

Step into Durham’s streets and discover the hidden stories of its women.

From rebel suffragists to everyday trailblazers, these walking tours shine a light on the women who shaped the city but were left out of the history books. Join us to unearth untold tales, reclaim forgotten spaces, and see Durham through a fresh, feminist lens.

Led by: The Story, Durham

Millennium Square (meet outside Gala Durham entrance)

What happens after the headlines fade? In the wake of unrest - whether in the North East or across the world - how are people really feeling? This powerful conversation explores the impact of conflict on communities, from local tensions to global wars, and what it means to carry on. Through shared stories and honest dialogue, we’ll look at fear, resilience, and the hope that can rise from unrest.

Speakers include: Yasmin Khan, Faty Kane, Dr Sue Robson and Tahmina Ali

Auditorium

Pause for a moment of poetry with the S&DR200 Poet in Residence. Inspired by the rhythm of the rails and the people who shaped them, these live pop-up poems turn everyday places into platforms for imagination.

From crafting financial stability to nailing the F*ck Off Fund formula, this session will tool you up to take control of your money, mindset and your future.

Led by straight talking Cambridge student, Chartered Accountant and entrepreneur who has grafted her way through the chaos of life, business and raising a family on her own - this isn't theory - it's lived experience. This is the money chat you didn't know you needed - honest and empowering. So, whether you're starting from scratch or levelling up, it's time to shift your thinking, back yourself fully and stop playing small with your finances.

Led by: Jordan Groody

Clayport Library – Lower Ground Floor

Using Kay Stonham’s recent article on female representation in TV comedy writers (it's still only 11%) as a springboard, in this workshop, we explore how stories shape the way we see the world. Together we'll think about comedy, character, and representation but also open the door to anyone who simply wants to try creative writing in a fun, supportive space. Through short, playful exercises, like crafting a scene that passes the Bechdel Test, we’ll spark ideas, experiment with dialogue, and imagine new possibilities. No experience needed – just curiosity and a willingness to explore the stories only you can tell.

Led by: Chess Tomlinson

Studio 1

Over the past year, young people in both South Shields (UK) and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) have been working with artists and community organisations to explore creative feminist youth activism. Turning local and global issues into creative expressions, and learning how protest can be used to make change.

In this session, hear from the participants themselves about their projects, and the change they hope to see in the world. Expect energy, honesty, and creativity-plus a chance to see the protest banners they’ve designed together, inspired by the North East’s powerful history.

The South Shields participants, who've been meeting at Bright Futures NE, also invite you to join them in creating your own protest badge, and join the movement!

Funded by the AHRC, this activity is part of a wider research programme developed in partnership with King's College London, Redes da Maré (Brazil), People's Palace Projects and Queen Mary University.

Cinema 1

Dive into our dressing up box to create an amazing outfit that celebrates everything that’s unique and brilliant about you. Then practice your power poses and show off your dance moves on the rainbow catwalk!

Suitable for: families/all ages.

Led by: Curious Arts

Gallery

Join us for a spectacular closing session with Jill Scott MBE – footballer, Lioness, broadcaster, and national treasure. From UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 glory to her hilarious and heartfelt moments on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, Jill brings her grit, humour, and unmistakable North East spirit to the stage.

In conversation, she’ll share stories from growing up in Sunderland to breaking barriers in women’s football, inspiring laughter, reflection, and insight.

Followed for a live music set by Amelia Coburn, the homegrown singer-songwriter known for her powerful voice and magnetic stage presence, bringing warmth, energy, and the perfect soundtrack to close the festival.

Led by: Jude Kelly, featuring Jill Scott, Dr Catherine Riley and an introduction by Dr Sandie Okoro OBE.

Performance by: Amelia Coburn

Auditorium