Pussy Power

Part of the on-going success of The Vagina Monologuesis the way it appeals directly to audiences. During performances, Ensler often asks how many women in the theatre have witnessed, or been directly involved in, domestic or sexual violence. On average two thirds of the audience stand up. Once the play gets going, female theatregoers lose some of their inhibitions about the 'v' and 'c' words, presumably because the content is something they can all relate to. Tiller says, 'There are certain points in the play when facts about the vagina are stated. When the actress says that there are 8000 nerve endings in the clitoris, twice as many as there are in the penis, the audience frequently respond by chanting the fact aloud. They feel part of a shared experience.'

Although the play often deals with painful and horrific situations, it is above all a celebration of being a woman and the power of creativity. For many of those involved in the project, it's had an enormous impact on their lives. 'Working on V-Day has changed my life,' says Larby. 'It has made me look at issues around valuing myself and also at the issues at the very heart of the play - the sense that we are ashamed of our vaginas at some level.'

For Tiller much of the joy of the work comes from the enthusiasm of young women around the world who are keen to become involved. 'Some young women said they didn't want to talk about post-feminism because it didn't mean anything to them. I realised that this was because, for them, so many things still haven't changed. Young women still want to empower themselves and they do care about the issues that during all those years of Thatcherism seemed to get lost. There is a whole new generation out there wanting to carry on, and I find that hopeful and encouraging.'

If you want to produce your own V-Day, become involved in a V-Day production or support the campaign in any way you can access information here.