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Feminism, equality and power: exploring The Handmaid’s Tale today

CMHR CEO to be joined by women leaders at RWB performances to discuss themes from iconic story

On a dark stage are five ballet dancers dressed in red knee-length flowy costumes with white square-like hats. They are looking forward with their hands in prayer. Partially obscured.

Photo: Daniel Crump

News release details

Isha Khan, CEO of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR), will host pre‐show conversations with three leading advocates for human rights at Royal Winnipeg Ballet (RWB) performances of The Handmaid’s Tale this week.

Conversations will take place before performances on October 12, 14 and 16 and explore themes from Margaret Atwood’s iconic 1985 novel, including equality, gender‐based violence, feminism and reproductive rights.

Tickets for the performance are required and available through RWB. Conversations will take place in the Piano Nobile area of the Centennial Concert Hall. This series of conversations marks the relaunch of RWB’s pre‐performance programming.

WHAT: Pre‐show conversations with women leaders at RWB performances of The Handmaid’s Tale

WHO: CMHR CEO Isha Khan, with special guests (details and bios below)

WHEN:

October 12, with Hilda Anderson‐Pyrz. Conversation at 6:45 p.m., performance at 7:30 p.m.
October 14, with Karen Sharma. Conversation at 6:45 p.m., performance at 7:30 p.m.
October 16, with Kobra Rahimi. Conversation at 1:15 p.m., performance at 2:00 p.m.

WHERE: Centennial Concert Hall, 555 Main Street, Winnipeg

Hilda Anderson‐Pyrz (she/her) is a member of the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation and the Chair of the National Family and Survivors Circle in Canada. She works across Canada and beyond to end violence against Indigenous women and girls, as well as 2SLGBTQ+ people.

Karen Sharma (she/her) is a first‐generation South Asian living in Treaty 1 territory. She serves as Executive Director of the Manitoba Human Rights Commission, chairs the Board of Directors of Women’s Health Clinic and is an organizer with Queer People of Colour Winnipeg.

Kobra Rahimi (she/her) is a Kurdish‐Canadian lawyer whose family fled Iran for a refugee camp in Iraq, where she spent the first 14 years of her life before coming to Winnipeg. Today, she shares her experiences as a newcomer to Canada and advocates for the rights of women.

Image: The Handmaid’s Tale, RWB Company artists. Photo by Daniel Crump.

Media contacts

Rorie McLeod (he/him)