Within a year of giving up a successful career in education to pursue a lifelong ambition to be a playwright, Sarah Connors was being nominated for prestigious national playwriting awards. Next year, three of her plays will be staged and big name theatres are taking a keen interest in producing her work. For this episode, recorded between rehearsal…

Ella was 40 when she decided to start writing poetry. Since then she's created the Mor Poets collective, published Morvoren, the poetry of sea swimming, and organised workshops and poetry evenings across Cornwall. When she was a little girl, a dramatic storm brought her family to Cornwall. Her own family now live on a boat during the summer and the…

Epic outdoor productions, unique open-air sculpture and mesmerising performances across Cornwall and the world – Sue Hill can do it all. She’s worked with Kneehigh, Wildworks, the Minack, the Eden Project to name just a few, flying the flag for Cornwall, her home county. Produced and presented by Karen Pirie Music by Alisdair Stirling…

It’s 20 years since the feminist production hub launched itself onto the world. Since then they have staged countless performances, ushered new female voices into the limelight and brought classic works screaming into the 21st century. Hear from the women who are making it happen. Find out what a Mayven is – are you one? And hear from other key wom…

International focus is on Mary as she takes the lead in Mark Jenkin’s highly anticipated follow-up to Bait – Enys Men. She’s appeared in countless theatre productions across Cornwall and was a core member of Kneehigh Theatre in the 90s. And she’s been seen on our small screens in everything from Eastenders to Poldark. Mary talks about the challenge…

A celebration of Cornwall's leading ladies in the performing arts.By Karen Pirie

When Cora first started skateboarding there were hardly any female role models - so Cora helped launch one of the first ever events for female skateboarders. Since then she's taught scores of girls and women how to skate. Hear her thoughts on public space, battling sexism on the skatepark and why she loves life in Cornwall.…

Yasmine is a world class fencer, one of the leaders of Truro's Black Lives Matter protests and she has helped feed many of Falmouth's homeless people. She's currently studying international politics at Exeter University's Penryn campus. She talks candidly about the shocking racism she has experienced since moving here and the education campaign she…

Rebecca runs her own proudly feminist theatre company which aims to level the playing field for women in theatre, champion the lost women of history and make women in the audience leave feeling great about themselves. She believes that Cornwall's outdoor theatre network will see us leading the way in the return to live theatre. She's also spearhead…

More cool Cornish women on living life their way in Cornwall.By Karen Pirie

Emily Stevenson wore a dress made of crisp packets to her graduation ceremony to highlight beach litter. It's her mission to keep Cornwall's beaches plastic free. David Attenborough is a fan. Emily talks about the well-being benefits of being in the open air and how beach cleaning helps her put the trauma of childhood bullying behind her.…

As a single woman, research suggests that writer Jane Pugh should be miserable and expect a curtailed lifespan. But the richness of her creative life in Cornwall, and the enjoyment she shares with friends and family makes her happier than many married people. She talks about sea swimming in winter, how to write convincingly, and why she quit her jo…

Rachel has been teaching foraging on the coast paths and beaches of Cornwall for more than 11 years. She shares her knowledge of the unfamiliar but delicious tastes, nutritional value and ecological importance of seaweed. She talks about how foraging keeps her in touch with nature and the seasons and how, in today's busy world, it helps her think a…

A Hallowe'en special with village wise women Cassandra and Laetitia. Cassandra was Britain's first ever tax-paying witch! They talk about magic spells, historic witch-hunts and their black cat, a keen hunter of ingredients for their cabinet of curiosities. Find out more about the history of Cornwall's pagan festivals, their favourite potent Cornish…

Inspirational life stories from some of Cornwall's most fascinating women.By Karen Pirie