The glass ceiling was an unknown concept to Jude Kelly when she was a child. The second of four daughters, she knew from an early age that she wanted a career in theatre and was encouraged by her parents to direct plays in the family home.
So, when a lecturer at Birmingham University remarked dismissively that theatre directing was not a career for a woman, she was shocked. He went on to say that he knew of only three women directors.
“One’s a lesbian, one’s retired and one’s just killed herself – which would you like to be?” It was Kelly’s first encounter with sexism.
“He was saying that I wouldn’t make it because I was a woman.” She went on to prove him wrong.
Today Kelly, 60, is the artistic director of the South Bank Centre in London, a world-famous arts centre that offers cultural events throughout the year and attracts millions of visitors. She is also the recipient of the prestigious Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to drama, which she received in 2006.
From the founding of a theatre company in 1976 to her senior role now, her list of achievements and awards is extensive. She has directed more than 100 productions, holds visiting professorships at several universities, and has been named one of the most powerful women in the UK by BBC Radio’s Woman’s Hour programme.
She also shares a passion for helping women who are struggling to make their voices heard. She is the founder of WOW – Women of the World festival – an annual festival of the arts, held in honour of International Women’s Day, where hundreds of women’s stories are shared.
This week she was in Durban for the South African Women’s Arts Festival at The Playhouse. She held two workshops, one on Leadership and one titled The Perils of Self-Censorship, that looked at how women limit their potential by self-censoring. It’s a subject about which she has been passionate since her student days.
“Women are expected to be nice, good and not troublesome, and, to achieve that, they start to censor their own instincts,” she says. “When they are hounded and held back, they start to go backwards.
“They need to find the courage to make changes and not isolate themselves. They need to support each other. Those who are in positions where they enjoy equality need to reach out and help those who are experiencing sexism and discrimination. We have to be activists for change and support the women who are afraid to be activists.”
Cultural influences play a part and in many cultures, men, and even families, police women’s behaviour. Kelly gave an example of a trip she made to India to train 400 women graduates. She came across many instances of women who wanted to pursue careers but felt pressurised by husbands and families to stay at home.
Despite the strides women have made in the past few decades, there are still many barriers and Kelly believes women and men need to address these together.
Working women need support in the home and the workplace, as well as affordable childcare.
“I was fortunate in having a husband who supported me in my work and helped with our two children. I was able to do the things I wanted to.”
Progress towards equality may be slow and there may be setbacks. But we all have a moral obligation to help other women and take opportunities presented to us – and that can be exciting, says Kelly.
* The South African Women’s Arts Festival at The Playhouse ends on Sunday. For this weekend’s events, see www.playhousecompany.com