It was first read in public and produced by Kali Theatre company at the Tristan Bates Theatre in London in January, for its annual Talkback series, which showcases work of promising up and coming new playwrights. The play consists of three first person fictional testimonies and RADA have added important physical attributes. All have very personal tales to tell. After its reading in January at Tristan Bates Theatre, the conversations continued.
It was clear the play could and should be developed further, due to it being so timely. ACV: Why did you want to write about this subject? What made you choose of format of three monologuesโฆ? SA: Like almost everyone the subject matter is one we instantly close our ears and eyes to. The sad reality is that it happens. The reason it continues is that we shut it out.
Movement and music, as well as text, is used to tell the story to deliver emotions that only people in those situations would feel and understand. Each character is from a different age group, a different country, and a different religion. At home, in a religious building, in a school, in a village, in a town, in a city. These three characters are deliberately different to reflect that the subject matter effects everyone, everywhere. I believe it should make you think and question.
I was always the type of person to even avoid reading articles on the subject, so to write it was incredibly difficult. The more difficult it was, the more I knew I had to write it. How will it be a full production? Three female voices told us their stories. The play has had many cuts and redrafts and is still running about the same length. However, what is different this time is that the women are not telling their stories but living their stories.
We follow them in their daily routines, see their trauma and feel their destinies. The director Shona Morris has beautifully captured moments of emotion with movement and music. You will see something more theatrically different in its delivery this time. ACV: What is next?
