This year's WiSE sponsors include: Lee Filters, Charcoalblue Theatre Consultants, White Light, Rosco and Avolites, which between them are gorgeously, fabulously and wonderfully generous. (WiSE is not being sycophantic here, these words describe the various sponsorship levels. This means, for a relatively small donation, you too could be labelled gorgeous, fabulous or wonderful! If this is something you aspire to and you would like more information about how WiSE will spend your money please see WiSE fundraising co-ordinator Caz Williamson on stand.)
Accompanying Williamson will be co-founder of WiSE, Sarah Rushton-Read. Both will be on hand - at stand RA-C7, just to the left of the PLASA information point - to discuss the issues and barriers that affect women, and by default many men, working in the entertainment industry today.
Rushton-Read says, "Both Caz and I will be blogging from the show floor on a daily basis. Content will be delivered in the form of video interviews and diaries, plus photos which we will share on WiSE facebook, Flickr, and our You Tube pages along with the WiSE, members only, social networking site. We will be delivering this content entirely from our trusty iphones - Mac hear our plea! So, if you have a story to tell, an experience to share or a comment to make come and visit the WiSE stand - you don't have to share it on social media if you don't want to."
WISE (Women in Stage Entertainment) was established in June 2008 by award winning lighting designer Paule Constable and industry communications specialist, journalist and photographer, Sarah Rushton-Read to promote gender equality and more equitable working practice in the entertainment technology and backstage and design disciplines.
(Jim Evans)
