Entertainment

The Shedding of Skin highlights horrors of male-on-female violence during war

Originally live streamed during lockdown, Vittoria Cafolla's powerful play The Shedding of Skin is finally reaching live audiences this week with its Greek-tragedy inspired tale of male-on-female violence as a tool of warfare. David Roy finds out more about the new production from Kabosh...

Shannen McNeice's Sam is approached by three Furies channelling the voices and experiences of other victimised women. Picture by Johnny Frazer
Shannen McNeice's Sam is approached by three Furies channelling the voices and experiences of other victimised women. Picture by Johnny Frazer Shannen McNeice's Sam is approached by three Furies channelling the voices and experiences of other victimised women. Picture by Johnny Frazer

A HARD-hitting new play which tackles male-on-female violence during armed conflicts will make its live debut in Derry this week.

From Belfast-based theatre company Kabosh, The Shedding of Skin aims to "give voice to thousands of women who have suffered abuse in all corners of the world".

Written by Armagh playwright Vittoria Cafolla and starring an all-female cast, director Paula McFetridge says that The Shedding of Skin is "a timely addition to the conversation on gender-based violence" given the horrific events occurring during the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.

"We want audiences to be moved, stimulated and mobilised to end the horrors of war and the brutalisation of women," explains Kabosh's artistic director.

"People feel so disengaged, overwhelmed and misinformed at the moment. Provocative, high-quality theatre offers a place for us to reach a better understanding of the impact of war."

When it was originally performed last year, The Shedding of Skin had to be live streamed due to Covid-19 restrictions. However, the play is now set to return to the stage for physically present audiences at The Playhouse in Derry before moving on to Armagh's Marketplace Theatre and a run at the Lyric in Belfast.

Starring actors Shannen McNeice, Vicky Allen, Louise Mathews and Catriona McFeely, the play is presented in the form of a Greek tragedy: McNeice plays Sam, an 'everywoman' approached by three Furies – Tereza, Ruth and Sinead – who channel the voices and experiences of women who have suffered at the hands of men during conflicts around the world and throughout history.

As the three Furies roam the Earth, they give voice to those who have been raped, assaulted, tortured and/or murdered in ancient Greece, the Soviet Union, the Balkans, Colombia, the Middle East and Ireland.

Writer Vittoria Cafolla explains that she felt the play needed to be 'epic' in form and scale in order to do justice to its powerful themes, utilising music, dance and dark humour to add drama, pace and complexity to the story at hand.

"The Furies were originally creatures who pursued and punished men for their heinous deeds," she says.

"So much of this play is about justice, in that these crimes against women aren't taken seriously, or acted upon. It felt natural to use the Furies to drive the debate on retribution."

A conversation about Sam's life leads to an intense re-enactment of the character's own experiences of sexual violence, a distressing scene which has required Kabosh to work with intimacy co-ordinator Paula O'Reilly throughout rehearsals.

However, director Paula McFetridge felt it was essential that the production authentically illustrated the physical threat of coercive/violent male behaviour as experienced by Sam and the other women represented in the piece.

"Any scenes of abuse were approached with real sensitivity to manage artist care," explains McFetridge.

"This was the first time I had worked with an intimacy co-ordinator and we broke scenes down into single moments. The action is seen from the perspective of the victim, not the perpetrator."

Although The Shedding of Skin was acclaimed when it streamed to home audiences last year, McFetridge believes the play needs to be seen performed live in person in order for people to experience its full impact.

"Live theatre gives you a communal experience," she says.

"When the girls sing, under the direction of Katie Richardson, the hairs stand up on the back of your neck. It's empowering."

Caoileann Curry-Thompson, acting head of Drama and Dance for the Arts Council of Northern Ireland which helped fund the play, comments:

"We are pleased to support this powerful production from Kabosh. The play, which features a talented local all-female cast and creative team, gives voice and space to all those women across the world who have experienced gender-based violence, and demonstrates the power of the arts in shining a light on and creating discussion around challenging subjects.

"Vittoria Cafolla is a remarkable playwright who in this work brings our pasts into our shared present and poses important questions about what our future could look like.

"Congratulations to all involved – I would encourage everyone to go along and experience The Shedding of Skin."

:: The Shedding of Skin will be performed at the Playhouse Theatre in Derry on June 3 and 4, the Marketplace Theatre in Armagh on June 8 and at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast from June 14 to 19. For performance times and tickets see kabosh.net/production/the-shedding-of-skin.