TS Square Yellow Black.png

Taking Space is a collaboration between hidden route theatre company, theatre artist Hayley Blakeman, young  women, girls and non-binary people  from across Dundee. It is a response to Plan International UK’s 2020 study which found that Dundee was the worst place in Scotland to be a girl. Taking Space explores why this might be and dreams that, one day, the opposite might be true.

By working collaboratively alongside creative partners and community organisations across Dundee, we want to creatively amplify and celebrate the voices and experiences of women, girls and non-binary people across Dundee and instigate change. Please read on for more info on some of the projects and how you might become involved.

taking space: animate

In partnership with Dundee City Council and Spatial Designer, Eilish Victoria, we animated Dundee’s City Square from the 22nd-24th of October 2021 with activity and conversations around safety for girls in public spaces. Over the course of the weekend we welcomed over 2500 people through the doors of the Taking Space marquee. We chatted, we played, we drew, we built dens and parks, took pictures, put pins on maps and reflected on what the city means to us. These conversations have been shared with

Supported and funded by Dundee City Council.

taking space: digital

From September to November 2021 we collaborated with NEoN Digital Arts Festival and three community groups across Dundee to creatively explore what digital safety means to young women and girls. The groups worked with Graphic Designer, Heather Tulloch to create and design three striking interactive posters which were displayed across Dundee in the run up to the festival. The groups then created three of short creative responses, captured by filmmaker Jassy Earl which were showcased as part of the festival from the 10th to 13th of November.

Watch the videos here!

Taking Space: research

In 2021, Creative Dundee commissioned hidden route to conduct a small piece of research that explored barriers for girls considering a career in the creative industries.

Over several months, we met with community groups, ran workshops and created spaces with young women from across Dundee to explore what barriers they and others face when considering pursuing a job in the creative industries. During the workshops we met some incredible, talented young women that inspired us with their stories and aspirations. Many of their experiences also left us feeling angry and challenged us further about the work that needs to be done.

You can read the full report below and also read Creative Dundee’s blog about the research here.

Taking Space: audio

As part of Dundee Rep Theatre and Scottish Dance Theatre’s digital festival ‘This Is For You Dundee’ we presented the first Taking Space audio play.

In early 2020, we held a series of conversations with young women from across Dundee to  explore the challenges of moving through the city as a young woman today as well as asking what needs to change so that young women feel safer in their city and public spaces. From these conversations, we have created an audio verbatim play in collaboration with the young women who spoke to us. What you will hear in the play are the exact words of young woman from across the city, their views, their opinions and their experiences.

If you can, we would suggest listening to the play as you have a move around your local area. The play focuses on public spaces so we feel being in a public space gives space for reflection. However, at home on the couch with a cup of tea is also fine.

We hope you enjoy it, we hope it gives you pause for thought, we hope you recognise some of the beauty of Dundee and some of the challenges of being a young woman in the city.

You can download a few short questions, prompts and provocations here. We would love to hear the thoughts and experiences of more women in Dundee. Please tag us on Twitter using @takingspace_dd or use the hashtag #takingspacedundee

This audio play is performed by hidden route ensemble members:
Andromeda Gibb, Danielle Robertson, Emily Lawrence, Holly Stewart, Lauren Sheddon, Mikaela Aktag

Sound Design: Gary Cameron

We support all women including cis, trans and intersex women, as well as non-binary and gender non-conforming people who identify in a significant way as women, femme or female.