WOW festival returns to Derry

A festival celebrating the achievements of women is taking place in Derry today and tomorrow.

Women of the World (WOW) features a range of events at the Playhouse Theatre,

The festival was first launched in London in 2011 and is the only one of its kind happening in Ireland. In 2013 for the City of Culture, the North West Women's Collective brought WOW to Derry.

The festival has grown each year and last year over 1,000 people attended the various talks, performances, workshops and classes.

This year's WOW festival features around 50 events.

Today has been set aside for local school students while tomorrow is open to the general public.

Special guests, including broadcaster and politician Sandi Toksvig, author Kathy Lette and Helena Kennedy QC, will join a host of local girls, women and men for a series of talks on everything from gender identity to the effect the media has on women's self-esteem.

A spokeswoman for the festival organisers said it was an event for everyone.