Empowering survivors of abuse by using theatre for social change
Help with my Churchill Fellowship
My name is JoJo, and I am the Artistic Director of Workie Ticket Theatre, a female and survivor-led feminist theatre company based in Newcastle, England.
Our company is dedicated to amplifying
women's voices, especially those of survivors of male violence. As survivors
ourselves, we use our lived experiences to create transformative theatre that
supports, empowers and inspires change.
In the North East of England, where we are based, we face one of the highest
rates of domestic abuse in the country, with approximately 37% of women
experiencing some form of abuse. Many of these women are from economically
deprived areas, struggling with unemployment, poverty, and limited access to
vital services. Our work focuses on giving these women a platform to share
their stories, foster resilience, and break the silence surrounding
gender-based violence. I am also a survivor and use my lived experience to
support others.
Recently, I was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to research global strategies
for preventing violence against women and girls, and I’m particularly keen
to explore how theatre can play a role in this work. I
would love the opportunity to learn more from other countries and explore
how we might support each other’s efforts in this field. Specifically,
I’m interested in how theatre can be used as a tool for raising awareness,
empowering survivors and advocating for gender justice. But I am also
interested in exploring theatre in general and how women use this as part of
their activism.
If anyone is open to a conversation, I’d be delighted to arrange a
meeting via zoom, teams or google meets and see if we can connect. I am hoping to visit Romania and Germany next year - I am already meeting some amazing women online to talk about their work but I am super interested in loads of different countries - particularly - South Africa, Malawi, USA and Canada. However, I am very open to speak to anyone in this field who might like to share their work with me. Or if anyone would like to advise me or share my details with other women who do similar work. I am hoping to visit Bond Street Theatre in New York next year so any companies or community organisations that might like to meet with me- please get in touch. Any advice and guidance would be appreciated. Thanks so much!
women's voices, especially those of survivors of male violence. As survivors
ourselves, we use our lived experiences to create transformative theatre that
supports, empowers and inspires change.
In the North East of England, where we are based, we face one of the highest
rates of domestic abuse in the country, with approximately 37% of women
experiencing some form of abuse. Many of these women are from economically
deprived areas, struggling with unemployment, poverty, and limited access to
vital services. Our work focuses on giving these women a platform to share
their stories, foster resilience, and break the silence surrounding
gender-based violence. I am also a survivor and use my lived experience to
support others.
Recently, I was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to research global strategies
for preventing violence against women and girls, and I’m particularly keen
to explore how theatre can play a role in this work. I
would love the opportunity to learn more from other countries and explore
how we might support each other’s efforts in this field. Specifically,
I’m interested in how theatre can be used as a tool for raising awareness,
empowering survivors and advocating for gender justice. But I am also
interested in exploring theatre in general and how women use this as part of
their activism.
If anyone is open to a conversation, I’d be delighted to arrange a
meeting via zoom, teams or google meets and see if we can connect. I am hoping to visit Romania and Germany next year - I am already meeting some amazing women online to talk about their work but I am super interested in loads of different countries - particularly - South Africa, Malawi, USA and Canada. However, I am very open to speak to anyone in this field who might like to share their work with me. Or if anyone would like to advise me or share my details with other women who do similar work. I am hoping to visit Bond Street Theatre in New York next year so any companies or community organisations that might like to meet with me- please get in touch. Any advice and guidance would be appreciated. Thanks so much!
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Submitted by JoJoK on 23 October 2024.