The Retreat
A women’s wellness getaway for creatives in theatre. A chance to step back from the hustle and connect with a community of women in nature
Peachplant have offered 12 free bursary spaces for women in the theatre industry from the North East.
What is it?
The retreat is a chance to step back from the hustle and the pressure of productivity. We’ll spend Sunday - Tuesday at The Barn in Easington, with opportunities to get involved in yoga, arts, forest bathing, sea dips, meditation, holistic health talks and massage.
The weekend can be whatever you need.
You want to immerse yourself in a community of women? You can do that.
You need 48 hours of doing nothing at all? You can do that.
There will be no pressure to be or do anything.
Created and organised by Peachplant Productions.
Supported by NE Cultural Freelancers.
The Women
Lucy Curry
Retreat Lead
Judi Earl
Zoe Murtagh
Natasha Haws
Christina Dawson
Kylie Ann Ford
Jemma Martin
Ann Hunter
Retreat Support
Dora Rubinstein
Aimee Shields
Maya Torres
Emily Corless
Cat Catizone
Karen Traynor
Why are we doing it?
Hi, it’s Lucy. In 2021, I got hit with an unexpected chronic illness. I went from being someone who never had to consider rest or my health, to someone who had to consider it every day. Coming back into the industry after 6 months of being house-bound was tough. As women, there’s an integrated pressure from being young that we have to show up and show how brilliant and productive we can be to validate ourselves in spaces.. But constantly ‘doing’ leads to burn out, and it’s not fun.
In 2022, I started training in holistic health and after being turned away by doctors, I began a self healing journey from an ‘incurable’ illness to living again. Such a big part of that healing was stepping back, connecting to nature and remembering I’m a human being, not a human doing.
So I want to take a group of women on a getaway to relax, revitalise and connect in a none work related space.
Because when women come together in community:
- We learn to remove our masks.
- We have permission to relax into who we are in the moment.
- We can be vulnerable or strong.
- We can participate or pass.
- We learn that we are not responsible for pleasing others.
- We realise the importance of allowing ourselves to be held in a space by others.
- We can simply show up.
"Each time women gather in circles with one another,
the world heals a little more"
Where is it?
The Barn in Easington. A restorative haven for people and nature. The Barn is a hidden gem nestling in a rewilded 30-acre farm on the unique Durham coast bordering Hawthorn Dene. A short walk from the beach and surrounded by fields and forest.
Can I join the retreat?
Yes absolutely!!!
Even if you weren’t able to get a bursary, you are still more than welcome to join if you are a women in the NE theatre industry.
The retreat will happen from around 2.30pm on the 7th July - 11am on the 9th July 2024.
We already have a few people joining us that have paid for their own accommodation, are contributing to the food costs and eating with the group, and you are able to join in all activities for free.
If you would be interested in joining us and want more details about accomodation etc, please email peachplantproductions@gmail.com and we’ll help you out!
If you’d like to support what we’re doing...
We are running this retreat self funded by Peachplant with support from North East Cultural Freelancers, and are not being paid for our work to organise this. We just know how needed and important it is. If you are an organisation / business / someone who would like to support what we’re doing. Whether that be to support future wellness events in the North East arts industry, donate money for us to bring in a wellness practitioner for the retreat or whatever it may be.
We are currently accepting donations through our Kofi link below or you an email us at peachplantproductions@gmail.com to chat about this further.
Have a question?
We’d love to answer them for you.
Please email:
peachplantproductions@gmail.com
and we’ll get back to you!