Rowen Haigh

Rowen Haigh conceived and facilitated the creation of Our Weddings, an ensemble-devised interdisciplinary performance piece that was produced in several locations across Philadelphia. Created by a group of women in West Philadelphia who identify as queer or active queer allies, Our Weddings used theatre, dance, and music to interrogate the current pop culture image of weddings and marriage, to identify ways in which that image is unsatisfactory, and to propose new images that better represent the ensemble's beliefs and values as women and queer individuals. After Our Weddings was created, the ensemble facilitated a free community workshop at Studio 34 in West Philadelphia to lead a larger group of community members in an exploration of weddings, marriage, and identity. This two-day workshop culminated in a public performance created by and starring the workshop participants and the original ensemble. This process allowed all involved to occupy both performing and witnessing roles as they celebrated existing wedding traditions, shared and enacted personal stories, and created new images of marriage and partnerships to take out into the world.