INTERNATIONAL Women’s Day, taking place on March 8, celebrates women and aims to press forward and progress gender parity and inclusivity.

This year’s campaign aims to motivate and unite whole communities to think, act and be gender inclusive.

With this in mind, Artrix is hosting a variety of events to celebrate women and encourage gender equality, beginning with the breathtaking dance production, Virago.

Internationally renowned, awarding winning choreographer, and artistic director of one of the UK’s leading contemporary South Asian dance companies, Sonia Sabri presents this new solo digital-dance collaboration with post-digital arts organisation Ludic Rooms.

A Virago is a woman of great stature, strength and courage.

Exploding the concept of contemporary dance, Sabri has created her own individual dance language, blending the grace and vigour of Kathak with urban motifs, powerful projections and mesmerising movement.

Virago is edgy, energetic and empowering and it will be performed at Artrix on Wednesday, March 7 at 8pm.

This International Women’s Day Artrix is also playing host to Stand Up for Women – a hilarious evening of comedy, packed with headline acts.

Featuring housewife extraordinaire, Barbara Nice (Peter Kay’s Phoenix Nights), up and coming comedian Les Kershaw and one of the UK’s busiest comics and Celebrity Island survivor, Shazia Mirza, the night will be hosted by Maureen Younger.

Stand Up For Women is on Thursday, March 8 at 8pm.

If that wasn't enough, the Bromsgrove venue will be screening Suffragette on Friday, March 9 at 11am, 100 years on from women winning the right to vote.

Starring Carey Mulligan and Meryl Streep, Suffragette recounts the early 20th Century growing suffragette movement.

Galvanized by political activist Emmeline Pankhurst (Streep), wife and mother Maud Watts (Mulligan) joins a diverse group of women who fight for equality and the right to vote.

For tickets and more information about any of the event, go to artrix.co.uk or call the box office on 01527 577330.