FROME is uniting to mark International Women’s Day (IWD) with a range of events designed to entertain and bring people together – while opening up important conversations and raising awareness.

Kicking off the programme is the annual Lightning Talks, with submissions open for ideas for five-minute discussions, open to anyone with an idea to share to touch, move or inspire within the International Women’s Day theme for 2026: Give to Gain.

The date for Lightning Talks will be announced soon, with applications for five-minute talks open at bit.ly/lightning-talks-2026.

Elsewhere, on Saturday, March 7, Frome Town Council is welcoming Lu Featherstone – motivational speaker, influencer and performer – to the Frome Saturday Market, along with her 32-foot vintage American bus, Susie, spreading the message of the vital positive role of male allyship, sharing information about Frome’s White Ribbon campaign and providing a space to chat, reflect and engage.

Lu in LuLand’s Self-Love Revolution tour bus will be outside the library from 10am to 3pm.

Frome town councillors will also be available at the market for their regular meet the councillor session, running from 10am to noon.

The following day (March 8), the town council marks IWD 2026 with a free screening of the Emma Rice Company’s Blue Beard, at the Merlin from 7pm.

A suggested donation of £3 will support women’s safety initiatives and White Ribbon activity in Frome.
Book a free ticket to the screening via bit.ly/blue-beard-iwd-26.

The Merlin will host a free screening of Blue Beard

Lucy McMahon, from the town council’s White Ribbon steering group, said: “We’d like to say a huge thank you to the Emma Rice Company for allowing us to screen Blue Beard for International Women’s Day – there’s nothing more powerful than a well-told story to start important conversations, and their generosity is truly in the spirit of this year’s IWD theme, Give to Gain.

“We’re also excited to welcome Lu Featherstone back after her brilliant show at the Merlin in 2024 – and to hear what comes out of this year’s Lightning Talks.

“There are several other projects in the pipeline, as part of the council’s White Ribbon accreditation programme, including new activities with local schools, sports clubs and businesses throughout the coming months and the full implementation of the WalkSafe app’s safety map.

“Join us for this year’s IWD activities and find out more about how you can get involved with local action to make Frome a safer place for women and girls.”

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