An innovative and forward thinking, yet backwards looking, project is being undertaken by Broken Leg Theatre. Their aim? To create, ‘A living archive documenting the experiences of women in the UK over the last 100 years, through online and face-to-face storytelling and sharing.’ They will use this collection as an inspirational stepping stone to produce Three Generations of Women, a play written by Alice Trueman and Anna Jefferson, co-directors and playwrights of Broken Leg Theatre.
Photo credit: Amy Griffin
The play explores the lives of women, their families, friendships and secrets. Broken Leg Theatre has used real stories by real women and continue to collect individual voices for their archive. They have currently had over 1800 submissions. You can find a dedicated section on their website for your anonymous responses to some though-provoking questions, including, ‘In what ways do you feel your identity as a woman might have been shaped by or informed by your mother’s own attitudes and behaviors?’ In the arts identity is frequently explored; it is individual yet those around us, the society in which we grow up and live in provide us with that sense of identity in both a positive and negative way.
Other questions include the topics of: inspiration, guilt, gender, conformity, stereotyping, work, media influences, advice and strength. These discussions are intended to offer insight into women’s lives and explore personal stories, family stories or even secret stories passed through the matrilineal line.
The award winning Broken Leg Theatre began in 2008 with co-founders, Anna Jefferson and Emily James-Farley, Alice Trueman, Company co-director and playwright and Beccy Smith, Tour Booker/Producer. From performing in the basement of a café to delivering an award winning production of My Second Life written by Anna and Alice Broken Leg Theatre continues to build on its past successes. There is no shortage of ambition here.
The fundraising clock is ticking!
To take Three Generations of Women on tour they are asking for pledges. Their goal is £5,500 and so far around fifty percent of the funds have been raised. This money will also help host forums which provide a safe space for women to share their stories and will enable them to run creative writing workshops. If you would like to assist in delivering this project across the UK and read more about its participants and future then please visit https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/three-generations-of-women#/story
If you’d like to contribute to the discussion then visit https://www.brokenlegtheatre.com/three-generations/questions/
Be inspired and be inspiring. Share the campaign and your stories.
By Helen Shewry
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