Solomons Women's theatre company draws international attention

Transcript

A women's theatre company in Solomon Islands that performs shows with an anti-violence message is starting to garner international interest.

The two-year project has reached the half-way mark with the group already performing in Honiara and soon to tour several provinces.

Amelia Langford filed this report:

The project aims to empower women while conveying an anti-violence message through theatre in a non-threatening way. The show uses movement and imagery rather than relying on a script. A New Zealand-Fijian theatre director, Nina Nawalowalo, from the Conch Theatre Company, has developed the show with her creative partner, Tom McCrory. She says she has noticed a big change in the women as they grow in confidence as performers.

NINA NAWALOWALO: After we finish the performance we do a question and answer and you know, they are on the stage, and they are speaking publicly, and that is a big thing for Solomon women to be on stage, so there is so much growth - it is just wonderful.

Nina Nawalowalo says exploring the theme of violence on stage has its challenges.

NINA NAWALOWALO: It is a very sensitive area how one looks at these issues and you have to be very careful how you make material and what you put on stage, so firstly that the women feel safe with it and that you are not cutting men out and placing pure blame - how you explore that.

The production's project co-ordinator, Lanieta Leo, says the show is a powerful tool against violence and a cathartic experience for many of the women involved, some of whom have experienced violence.

LANIETA LEO: It is a healing process for them having been survivors that they are just acting on the stage and there could be people amongst the audiences who have been, let's say, the abusers or perpetrators [of violence] for that matter and they are sending this powerful message across to these people.

And Lanieta Leo says other women have been calling her asking if they can take part. One performer, Susan Galutia, says she really enjoys being in the show.

SUSAN GALUTIA: I think I just love this theatre, it's like new but for me it is a very interesting thing. Whenever I come into the theatre I can just relieve the stress and just forget about everything else and it's like I just enjoy myself doing this thing.

Another performer, Lisa Horiwapu, says she now wishes she had tried theatre earlier.  

LISA HORIWAPU: I'm 42 years old now, I just wish I had started earlier than that, maybe in my early 30s, even 20s, so I kind of think encouraging young women, especially for us, to be more serious in advocacy work for the issues especially to do with domestic violence would be a good thing for us.

The theatre project is funded by the European Union, the British High Commission and the British Council. The New Zealand country director of the British Council, Ingrid Leary, describes the show as compelling. She says the production is also garnering international interest.

INGRID LEARY: There has been enormous impact on the ground and the Solomons people have been really receptive and embraced the idea of a national theatre group, for a number of reasons. Not only is it about empowerment of women but it is also an opportunity for them to create international profiles because there are overtures about having the theatre group perform at different international festivals, including the UK.

Ingrid Leary says the aim now is to create a permanent theatre company and Solomon Islands government has indicated interest in helping making that happen.