Time: 7:00 - 9:00pm Venue: The Studio, The Pleasance
From Channel 4 To The Future - ‘Face Up,’ The Bold New Play Addressing Female Genital Mutilation
11th October 2013 is the International Day Of The Girl Child, as declared by the United Nations, and on this day, ‘Face Up,’ a new play that challenges the myths surrounding Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), will receive a Live Reading/performance in London.
After a successful first performance at Channel 4 Studios on 5th September 2013, followed by a BBC Newsnight report that evening on FGM, with key speakers including The Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmar and the Commander of Police Simon Foy, we invite you to join in the debate.
Around 24,000 British girls a year are affected by FGM, with some being taken abroad for the illegal procedure. FGM ranges from allegedly minor, to severe mutilation of the genitalia, and in some cases death. According to BBC Newsnight and many organisations, not a single prosecution has been made in the U.K. against perpetrators.
The evening will include an introduction, performance of an excerpt of the play, and a question and answer session with the writer, director and speakers from FGM practicing communities. Together we will aim to illuminate some of the issues and we welcome your input. The collective observations and recommendations will be documented and sent to the office of the prime minister and related public bodies.
Face Up has been developed with support from key organisations such as Forward U.K (The leading U.K body working in the prevention of FGM), the NHS and Project Azure (The Metropolitan Police Child Protection Unit on FGM). The play won a scriptwriting competition at the 2013 British Urban Film Festival.
It was written by actor/writer, Yvonne Ossei from NCDT Accredited East 15 Acting School and BA English at Queen Mary University. The live Reading will be directed by J.D. Douglas whose credits include King Lear (for Shakespeare’s Globe) and J.A Story (Theatre Royal Stratford).
Home to the likes of the BBC and set in the culturally significance borough of Islington, with an 18-year history in staging new and emerging theatre, The Pleasance is well placed to host this event.
Location: The Studio, The Pleasance, Carpenters Mews, North Road, London N7 9EF. (5 minute walk from Caledonian Road, Piccadilly line. Kings Cross/St Pancreas Mainline Intercity-Short tube or bus journey away.) Free parking on weeknights.
Time: 7pm-9pm
Date: Friday 11th October 2013
By Invitation Only, RSVP: yvonneossei@gmail.com
This is an industry only live Reading for Press, Theatre/Film companies and Social Organisations.
