PEELING
Various venues across Wales
Fri 8 Mar-Thurs 2 May
Initially commissioned by the Graeae Theatre Company in 2003, peeling was a whole new coda to Kaite O’Reilly’s writing on how disabilities are both portrayed and observed within the theatre. The play delights in its subversion of the archetypal theatre experience by interweaving British Sign Language and audio captions into each subsequent show, in order to challenge both its audiences and the universal societal paradigms that may affect an innate understanding of the play.
Opening in Newport on International Women’s Day and continuing this month to Merthyr (Wed 13), Brecon (Thurs 14), Treorchy (Tue 19 and Wed 20), Aberystwyth (Tue 26), Milford Haven (Wed 27), Abergavenny (Thurs 28) and Blackwood (Fri 29), peeling is a postmodern take on ancient Greek tragedy The Trojan Women. For the uninformed, the narrative follows a triad of disabled women, Alpha, Beaty and Coral, who reside within the same strand of oppression. Their stories run parallel to those of the women of Troy who lost their children to conflict, but this chorus uncovers their truths through dialogue glutted with acerbic criticisms about the choices they have made. Permeated by its sardonic, biting undertones, peeling is derisive in its manner, but ultimately heralds the notion that every woman has a story that still needs to be heard.
Tickets: £8-£14.50. Info: www.takingflighttheatre.co.uk
words Sophie Williams