Solomon Islands selects women only group to attend festival
Solomon Islands first ever national women's theatre troupe has been selected to attend this year's Melanesian Festival of the Arts in Papua New Guinea.
Transcript
Solomon Islands first ever national women's theatre troupe has been selected to attend this year's Melanesian Festival of the Arts in Papua New Guinea.
The all-women States of Change group is a British Council project, which conveys an anti-violence message through theatre.
The country director of British Council New Zealand, Ingrid Leary, says the group has been invited by Solomon Islands' Government to perform at the festival in Port Moresby in June.
Ms Leary told Amelia Langford that performing at the festival is an opportunity for the group to help build Solomon Island's international profile.
INGRID LEARY: Not only is it an exciting opportunity for the women to perform internationally but it's really great that the Solomon's Government has invited them, that they're funding them, their airfares, and so on. What that means is it's a real sign of the Government's support for the project and it also means that the women will have the opportunity to help develop an international profile for the Solomon Islands through theatre and also through the women's involvement in theatre. Because until now, it's mainly been the men's panflute performers who are wonderful who have showcased Solomon Islands culture internationally but it's great for the international community to get the message that the Government is supportive of woman, that women are included in civil society and the arts and that's certainly what this theatre performance will showcase.
AMELIA LANGFORD:And this particular show does has a message about anti-violence. Tell me about that.
IL:It's a piece that has been devised by Nina Nawalowalo who's from the Conch Theatre in Wellington. She's an acclaimed Fiji-New Zealand director and she has had shows performed internationally at various festivals, including in London, Sydney and Wellington. And she uses a very particular type of theatre, it is almost physical theatre, there is no scripting, it's movement orientated, it is very akin with Melanesian culture and Melanesian expression so it is an ideal art form through which to discuss the sensitive issue of violence against women and girls. It is a problem in the Solomons like it is in many other countries and it is also a taboo it is difficult to raise the subject but using this type of theatre is non-confrontational and what it allows is a discussion to happen after the performance which lets people feel comfortable and safe in talking about something that is traditionally not usually discussed.
AL: And what has been the reaction from the women in the group about the possibility of attending this festival?
IL: They are hugely excited. The very first thing they all did was go home and organise their passports - looked at whether they had one or whether it needed updating and so on. Very very exciting for them, not only to perform at this festival but it will be a massive personal development for everybody who goes to see all the other art forms coming from the Melanesian islands at the festival, theatre, dance, poetry, you name it. It is all going to be there.
AL: And this could just be the first of many international festivals do you think?
IL: We are hoping it will be be the first of other international festivals. We are already investigating various events that are happening in the Pacific and other parts of the world where we can involve some or all of the women. We're looking at different funding streams for that and different structures in which we can do that but we are confident there will be other international opportunities for some or all of the women.
To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following:
See terms of use.