The Guilty Feminist 452. Women in Music with Lucy Karczewski and Nia Towle
Oct 13, 2025
In this insightful discussion, Lucy Karczewski and Nia Towle, West End actresses and singers from Stereophonic, delve into the world of music and female empowerment. Lucy shares her visceral connection to her character Diana, while Nia highlights Holly's independence and the emotional depth of her journey. They tackle the dynamics of male dismissiveness in creative fields and how success alters relationships within a band. The conversation also explores the importance of female friendship and resilience, making for an inspiring dialogue about creativity and ambition.
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Feminism Through Everyday Power Dynamics
- Stereophonic reveals feminism by showing how women were sidelined, humiliated and still fought back in 1970s music culture.
- The play highlights ordinary moments that expose power, insecurity and creative dynamics within a band.
Role Changed Actor's Confidence
- Nia Towle describes how playing Holly gave her confidence and changed her presence in the rehearsal room.
- She says the role felt liberating and she hopes to carry that confidence into future work.
Undermine-Then-Praise Control Tactic
- The play shows how male partners can simultaneously build women up and undermine them to control careers and creativity.
- That dynamic is rooted in male insecurity and manipulates women's self-belief to keep them dependent.
