VESSEL
How far would you go for a cause you believe in? How far is too far?
There is a man. Man is a journalist. He meets Woman and starts to cover her story. A story that will change the world.
Irish writer and performer Laura Wyatt O’Keefe, tackles the divisive subject of women’s bodies and women’s rights in a compelling new drama. It is inspired by Ireland’s recent referendum on abortion and real cases of women around the world not receiving medical treatment and support they need in their own countries. Vessel is a timely reminder that globally women are still fighting to gain control of their own bodies and their right to choose.
At its heart a love story, the play tells the story of an Irish right-to-choose activist. While using her own unwanted pregnancy to bring a legal challenge against the government she meets a journalist who interviews her to publicise her campaign. As their relationship develops he worries he is getting in too deep and begins to reconsider his situation.
Vessel uses wit and humour to explore the complexities of love and relationships in modern society, taking in motherhood, fertility, bodily autonomy and restrictive abortion laws in many countries. With campaigns and rallies for women’s rights gathering momentum worldwide, it questions if we can ever separate a woman from her fertility? As a society do we value women as humans or just potential mothers?
What was the inspiration for this performance?
Vessel was inspired by the Repeal
the 8th campaign. I grew up in an Ireland where we did not talk about abortion,
we did not talk about choice. Abortion was something that was talked about in
hushed tones behind closed doors and it was always something that the person
would regret. But something started to change around 2010, people started
talking, marching, campaigning.
People were unafraid to
speak out.
Vessel started as a play about
abortion but its become a play about choice. So much of the theatre I see
about women acknowledges and details female struggle and that’s it. Vessel is about exploring what happens
after that struggle, what happens to the female character when she has freedom,
when she has choice, when she is empowered? As a theatre maker I’m excited by
the possibility of female focused narratives not the retelling of female
suffering. For women to keep moving forward socially and artistically we’ve got
to start telling and listening to stories of female empowerment.
Is performance still a good space for the public
discussion of ideas?
'The right to choose' will always be an incredibly divisive subject.
It's a subject entrenched with political and personal views. It feels
impossible to separate ourselves emotionally from the subject. But theatre and performance allow an audience to bare
witness to the intimate parts of this subject, it allows the audience to
sit in the clinic with the characters, to see the affect on their
family, to listen to the online trolls.
It allows the audience to see the human behind the issue - to feel,
to laugh or cry with them. The audience gets to walk in
their shoes but also gets to leave those shoes at the exit when
the curtain closes. Or maybe not? Maybe they change along with them? From
the safe space to a darkened auditorium.
How did you become interested in making performance?
My Aunt was a director and I was
sent to rehearsals with her because it was cheaper than a babysitter.
And then of course, I was given the role of 'child no 10' or something and that
was it, I had the bug.
I don't ever remember deciding
to be an actor or a theatre maker, I just was one. When I was in secondary
school, I had a meeting with my career guidance counsellor and when I
said I wanted to be an actor they told me I would end up very poor and I should
look at 'real' career options but it didn't really affect me. I had an
incredibly supportive family who never questioned my decisions.
Is there any particular approach to the making of the
show?
Whenever I make a show
I ask a lot of questions. I bury myself in research. Normally when I start writing I'm angry
about something, I'm angry about the lack of female bodily autonomy or I'm lost
- I don't know what I feel about it. So I keep asking questions and
keep researching and eventually I reach a point where I know what I need
to write. My research for this show started in 2013 when I
interviewed Mara Clarke of Abortion Support Network and with people who oppose
legalised abortion. And that's how I wrote the show, in the middle of those
opinions, the for and against.
Once the research was done, I went
into a room with artists and offered up the script. And slowly through feedback
from these workshops, pages of ideas and questions arrived. Then it was my
job to write the story that needed to be told.
Does the show fit with your usual productions?
It does in lots of ways. It's about
female-focused social issues but I feel this is the first time I was courageous
enough to simply write a story. As a playwright and an artist I normally try
to be clever in narrative form and structure. I try to impress an audience with
the ingenuity of the presentation of the work but with Vessel I didn't hide behind form or structure, I wrote a
story that was honest and simple. I just told the truth of the story. And
that was hard as an artist, to be truthful, to not try and distract
the audience with theatricality.
What do you hope that the audience will experience?
I hope they are challenged, that
their ideas and opinions about bodily autonomy and theatre are challenged,
that they walk out with questions about the play and questions about
themselves.
‘Laura Wyatt O’Keeffe’s work is fresh, fearless and raw. Vessel is a timely yet timeless play about how we value women and fertility’ Bryony Kimmings (artist and project mentor)
On 25 May a referendum in Ireland produced an overwhelming vote in favour of repealing the 8th Amendment and allowing abortion on request up to the 12th week of pregnancy. Prior to this, each day 9 Irish women travelled to the UK, spending up to €1,000 to be considered as criminals - all in the pursuit of a safe abortion. There is still no firm date for the new legislation to be passed. Incredibly, women in Northern Ireland continue to make journeys to Britain for a procedure that remains illegal there – a country legally and constitutionally part of the UK.
‘The writing is evocative … impressive pulsating atmosphere’ The Irish Examiner on O’Keeffe’s Wish I Was
Laura Wyatt O’Keefe is part of a family steeped in Irish politics - her great granduncle was Michael Collins who fought for Ireland’s independence and brokered/signed the peace treaty with the United Kingdom. As a performer, writer, facilitator, researcher, collaborator and activist she tells stories, in any way that she can – through theatre and site-specific performances, sound and video installations, spoken word and short films. www.lwok.co.uk <http://www.lwok.co.uk>
Vessel is performed by Laura and Edward De Gaetano. It was created with director Christopher Gatt and Laura is working with Bryony Kimmings as a mentor. The show was developed with support from Olivier Award winning Fishamble Theatre Company and input from the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, Abortion Network Support, a GP, solicitor and activist Diane Munday.
Listings information: Vessel
Underbelly, Jersey, Bristo Sq (Venue 302)
3-27 Aug (not 13)
13.10 (65 mins)
£9 - £11
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