What I saw tonight at the Pavilion Theatre, Dun Laoghaire was one of the most affecting performances, of any type, that I think I’ll ever see.
December 16th, 2012. A young woman and her friend board a bus in New Delhi heading for home. What follows shocks India and the world, and changes the lives of these two people and countless others, forever.
This play (performed in English) is a blistering evocation of that night and the ripples of change it set in motion. One woman’s fate touched so many of our lives – the press named her NIRBHAYA, “Fearless” – and in the wake of her death many of us began to break the silence and speak. In this profoundly moving piece of testimonial theatre, five women now break their own silence by sharing their personal stories with the world.
I walked out having felt like I’d been hit by a train. The bravery of these women to stand and talk of their experience is phenomenal. As a man, I feel truly ashamed of my gender and the violence we are capable of. Director Yael Farber and the entire cast are to be commended on a piece which can, and should, change the way the world looks at sexual violence.
Nirbhaya runs until Saturday in the Pavilion (4 performances including matinee Sat).