By Rhiannon Dunbar
Waterstones Nottingham is hosting a Women In Horror festival celebrating and championing all things female in horror literature and film.
The event will include talks, workshops, screenings and more, covering a wide range of topics and themes.
It is happening on Saturday (Nov 9) and Sunday (Nov 10).
Waterstones are collaborating with a range of businesses and individuals including Monstrous Flesh, Nottingham Horror Collective and Fortune and Glory Film Club.
Kibrina Davey, 35, Events Manager at Waterstones Nottingham said: “I wanted to do something around horror as it’s having a moment right now.
“We have such a good horror scene in Nottingham already, so I wanted to help grow that community.”
Kibrina said it is important to her to create a space where women can come together to celebrate female involvement in horror in what is historically a ‘male centric’ genre.
She added: “I want it to be something for everyone and I want to form those connections with creators and academics in Nottingham.
“They’re very inspiring.
“And I’m excited to finally be able to take this opportunity.”
Clelia McElroy, the founder and director of Monstrous Flesh, will be hosting a workshop on the anti-heroines of horror and thriller cinema.
She said: “This is a condensed version of the five week course I am currently delivering at Broadway cinema on the same topic.
“We will be looking at certain tropes associated with ‘female villains’ in these genres, as well as the representation of queer and non binary villains in horror, and interrogating the (often not so subtle) misogyny behind these portrayals.”
(Credit: Rhiannon Dunbar)
While there is a focus on analysing horror in literature and cinema, there will also be the opportunity to watch a screening of the 1931 classic Frankenstein.
And the chance to design and paint your own ‘spooky’ mug with Nottingham-based illustrator Yasmin Cousins.
Clelia McElroy stressed the broad cultural and societal importance of a festival such as this.
She said: “Dedicated events like this one contribute to a broader cultural conversation about gender, representation, and stereotypes, as well as the power of storytelling on future generations.”
She added that this type of event is crucial as we have moved from a place of asking why women like the genre, to instead recognising and celebrating the achievements of women who create and consume horror.
This helps to create a more ‘inclusive and equitable’ industry.
Tickets for the main event, which range from £8 to £18, are available to purchase on.
Booking for Yasmin Cousin’s Spooky Mug Workshop is available here.