“Theatre, television, books and cinema are the things we turn to for escapism, inspiration, or simply just for enjoyment and entertainment,” says Louise Dearman, the only actor to play both Elphaba and Glinda in the West End musical, Wicked.

“Ensuring we have a positive representation of female friendship is hugely important, since we are always going to be faced with the battles of being a woman and feeling an element of competition across all of these platforms.

Who is the most successful? The most beautiful? The best mother? We have all these questions thrust in our faces, so encouraging women to come together, support each other and understand that we are stronger together is hugely important and empowering.

So much of the story of Wicked revolves around the relationship between Elphaba and Glinda and how these two completely different young women build such a strong friendship despite their lives, upbringings and beliefs being worlds apart.

Women are so often forced into this horrible competitive arena, so it’s fantastic that Wicked is up there proving that two women can both be strong, ambitious, passionate and united as friends.”

4 experts on the importance of female friendship