Presentation employs ‘shadow casting’ to increase awareness of violence against women
Montreal, February 20, 2017 – On March 9th, 10th & 11th, 2017, Moving Forward Productions in collaboration with YWCA Montreal and its Foundation will present the Montreal premiere performance of SEVEN, a ground-breaking documentary play. A question period and an exchange of ideas will follow the presentation of this play on March 11th, moderated by journalist Sue Montgomery, recipient of the 2016 Women of Distinction Awards in the Communications category, awarded by the Women’s Y Foundation of Montreal.
SEVEN tells the true stories of seven remarkable women who risked threats to their own lives to fight for the well-being of women, families, and children around the globe. Their defense of human rights includes rescuing girls from human traffickers in Cambodia; protecting women from domestic violence in Russia; empowering rural women in Afghanistan; and promoting peace and equality in Northern Ireland.
“The YWCA Montreal and its Foundation are proud to be associated with the presentation of this documentary play. Violence against women and girls is an unfortunate reality for many Montrealers. This stage reading is another way to raise awareness and promote the prevention of violence against women and girls, and is a priority for our organization. Men’s voices, which are part of the solution that will end all forms of violence against women and girls, are included in this version of SEVEN. It is also a great opportunity to mark March 8th,International Women’s Day”, declares Hélène Lépine, CEO of the YWCA Montreal.
Written by seven award-winning playwrights, the play has been translated into two dozen languages, performed in 32 countries and 22 states, and has included casts made up of actors, non-actors, media personalities, students, politicians, NATO generals, neighborhood groups–and there has even a star-studded event produced by Tina Brown, directed by Julie Taymor, starring Meryl Streep.
This particular production of SEVEN is unique in that each character is double cast; one man and one woman lend their voices to each story. The creative team strives to illustrate how essential the support of the male demographic is to the fight for equal rights. By employing this ‘shadow-casting’, they are inviting men in to the conversation, thereby depicting solidarity and allegiance to the feminist cause. This theatrical device reinforces the notion that these seven stories are important to all humanity – regardless of gender or ethnicity. SEVEN is more than a feminist play: it is a humanist play.
The performance of SEVEN will be directed by Jen Viens, produced by Sherry Chen & Jen Viens, with a cast that includes: Camila Santos, Sebree Laurie, Anne-Marie Saheb, David Levy, Maude Choko, Jean Bernard, Lee Marshall, Matthieu Mascré, Lorna Kidjo, Michael Zahran, Sherry Chen, Kenny Wong, Noelle Charpentier & Michael Lortie. The play is written by Paula Cizmar, Catherine Filloux, Gail Kriegel, Carol K. Mack, Ruth Margraff, Anna Deavere Smith, and Susan Yankowitz, and is published by Dramatists Play Service.
For more information about the activists, go to: seventheplay.com
“Riveting, explosive, and inspiring drama…starkly emotive…reaffirm[s] the belief that one person could indeed make a difference.”— Huffington Post
“It was impossible not to be inspired by the widely varying examples of courage that the project corralled.” — Washington Post
“Magnificent SEVEN – the global drama putting women’s rights center stage.” — The Guardian
The women of SEVEN are:
Hafsat Abiola, Nigeria
Farida Azizi, Afghanistan
Mukhtar Mai, Pakistan
Marina Pisklakova- Parker, Russia
Inez McCormack, Northern Ireland
Mu Sochua, Cambodia
Anabella de Leon, Guatemala
You can find more information about the performance on the Facebook event page.
Tickets are available online: seventheplay.brownpapertickets.com
Info
March 9, 10 and 11 at 8 pm in the YWCA Holden-Fisher Hall, located at 1355, René-Lévesque Blvd West in Montreal.