Our Show! Success!

Saturday we performed to a sold out audience, of more than 200 men and women at the Central Library in Islington. The final numbers on funds raised aren't in yet, but it should be between 2000-3000gbp. Amazing. I just posted a photo of the cast on the night of the dress rehearsal, now I would like to post one of the way we felt after our show. More details, reflections and photos to come...Thank you ladies, for making my dream come true.

Dress Rehearsal: You ladies ROCK

Friday evening we had our dress rehearsal until 10pm. Ali was our photographer and took over 300 photos which I will put on a CD and will then be copied for the entire cast, courtesy of Annie. I leave on Thursday evening for the big trip, so not sure how much will be posted before then, but here is a sneak peak at the photos to come. Well done ladies.

TVM: Music and MISC.

Hello Everyone,

As we get the last minute items sorted out for the show, there are bound to be things that come up!

Music: One of them is concerning the music Maria is creating to play during the slide show before the show as well as during intermission.

How will we project/play it?

She can either play an Ipod if someone has speakers/bose system or burn a CD if there will be CD player. I also have small speakers that can be connected to my computer to play a cd, (computer will be used with projector for slide show) but these speakers are not loud enough to fill the room with sound.

Noel, is there a way to connect something to the speaker system that will be set up for the mics? Does anyone have a CD player or a system to connect the ipod to?

I won't be checking email after 1pm today, so please respond before then, or bring ideas to tonight's dress rehearsal.

Tonight: Remember, come after work, food will be provided and we will begin the full run through at 6.30 with the share time following. Even if you haven't created a monologue for yourself, there will be some time for those who have and any other thoughts/feelings you want to share impromptu about your experience this year with V-Day Islington. Erin will also have a short response activity which will be used in her display for the show.

Misc. Costume notes: I've bought black waterproof mascara that we can all use for the show as well as some red lipstick which can be shared.

Sunday, Driver Needed: A van has been offered for the strike on Sunday at the Central Library to return/transport the items used in the performance, sound and lighting equipment. A driver is needed to drive the van. Does anyone want to volunteer for this or know someone who would be able to do it. If so, please contact Noel.

Thanks and see you this evening. I will be there from 4.30 to catch up with Hannah. Our show has SOLD OUT!!!!! Well done everyone!

I'm getting excited!!!!!

Lots of vagina love,

Kara

WTF: Unbelievable

German Judge Cites Koran, Stirring Up Cultural Storm

FRANKFURT, March 22 — A German judge has stirred a storm of protest by citing the Koran in turning down a German Muslim woman’s request for a speedy divorce on the ground that her husband beat her.

In a ruling that underlines the tension between Muslim customs and European laws, the judge, Christa Datz-Winter, noted that the couple came from a Moroccan cultural milieu, in which it is common for husbands to beat their wives. The Koran, she wrote in her decision, sanctions such physical abuse.
***
In January, the judge turned down the wife’s request for a speedy divorce, saying her husband’s behavior did not constitute unreasonable hardship because they are both Moroccan. “In this cultural background,” she wrote, “it is not unusual that the husband uses physical punishment against the wife.”
***
For some, the greatest damage done by this episode is to other Muslim women suffering from domestic abuse. Many are already afraid of going to court against their spouses. There have been a string of so-called honor killings here, in which Turkish Muslim men have murdered women.

“For Muslim men, this is like putting oil on a fire, that a German judge thinks it is O.K. for them to hit their wives,” said Michaela Sulaika Kaiser, the head of a group that counsels Muslim women.

[source and full article]

Friday's Final Dress Rehearsal

Ok ladies! The countdown begins. Five more days!

Friday Dress Rehearsal

Dinner: Please come to the Central Library directly after work. Harriet is organising to have dinner and drinks for us before our dress rehearsal. It should be a variety for both veg and non-veg, I've recommended pizzas. If you prefer to bring your own meal to munch on, go ahead, but wanted to let you know food and drink will be provided. Please try to get to the library by 5.30pm, if possible. I will be there from 5pm and Noel will be there from 4pm setting up the lights and sound equipment so that we can work straight though the script with lights and sound.

Dress: It is a dress rehearsal, so please bring/wear the clothes you plan to wear the evening of the event. This will help with shoes and comfortability the night of the show as well as any last minute modifications to your costume you may want to make. Sharon mentioned she may be able to get some red feather boas for those that are interested in adding that to their outfits. If anyone has extra red accessories, then please bring them along for others to use if you do not need them.

Run-Through: I would like to begin the run-through at 6.30pm. We will go through without any stops. I need to see how long the show is and as we did not get through the entire script last time, it's imperative we make it through without stops tonight. There will only be a five minute warm-up to get our bodies and minds ready for the stage. The show usually runs 90mins without additional monologues and we have two as well as a short explanation of the vagina warrior balloons and the final thank you. We will take the ten minute intermission during our dress rehearsal and I am guessing it will put us up to 120 mins for everything. That would put us at an 8.30/8.45 start to share our personal monologues.

Personal Monologues: Remember the challenge I gave you at the auditions? To write or create your very own personal monologue in response to your journey through the process of our V-Day Islington production or to why you decided to join us. I have spoken to a couple of you who have created something but are unsure whether you will share. I have also spoken to others who haven't created one. I ask that if you decided not to create one or that you decide not to share yours, that you at least share some feedback during our share time about being a part of the production, even if it's not what you created. Also, if you are interested in having your personal monologue (remember, it can be artwork as well) put into our display that Erin is creating about the process involved in our event, please email her to let her know.

Photography: My husband may come to the dress rehearsal for the run through of the script in order to take photos for the slide show, as well as a full cast photo, since we still haven't done that. I would like to get a photo printed for everyone as a memento of the show on Saturday afternoon.

Saturday Show After Party: Harriet and I have been going to various pubs in the area not to far from the library for a place to gather and have a celebratory drink, or two... after the show on Saturday evening for the cast, crew and partners, etc. We have been unable to get a place with a private room, as they are either booked/unavailable for so late in the evening. And they aren't free. I went to The Alwyne Castle on St. Paul's road (5-7min walk from library)after our workshop on Sat. and they are a large venue with an outside seating area and a larger space inside. They are happy to have us come as a group,if the weather is warm again and the outside is open, there will certainly be plenty of room. We thought it was still a large enough area to crash, even if it was busy. Harriet has also mentioned the Metro Bar which is the opposite direction from the library, I believe, on Holloway Rd. They are also happy to have a large group of us join them. Anyone else is welcome to secure a large space or private room if you know somewhere in the area, but at the moment, neither Harriet nor I have any more options or time to do so.

I think that's it for now. Will let you know if anything else comes up, of course. Good luck this week putting the final touches on your costumes and practicing your monologues. I have every confidence in each of you. The audience will be touched by your performances. And I will be wearing waterproof mascara, because I know I will be too.

See you soon!

Kara

Workshop Overview

Thank you for those of you who were able to attend our workshop on Saturday early afternoon. Noel and Allan were both on hand with myself to work with individuals on monologues and Noel took us through some exercises for about 45 minutes before doing individual work. For those of you who were unable to make it, we missed you and are looking forward to seeing you on Friday! I am also happy to report that Sue A. has recovered and will be joining us on Friday as well. Wahoo!!!

Trust: Noel lead us through several trust exercises with partners as well as with the entire group. One of the reasons behind this is that we are a team and we have to know and remember that when we are all on stage, we are there for each other. Basically, "we've got your back." This is important to remember if when you are standing on stage in the spotlight and suddenly you don't know what you are doing there. We are there for you.

Accepting Applause: We also had more practice with accepting applause, as many of us are new to the stage. We practiced keeping in character as well while accepting the applause and moving back into the circle. Remember, you deserve the applause. You are wonderful!

Voice: We also did voice exercises and Noel reminded us about the Tai-Chi breathing that we practiced at our first rehearsal. This is important to remember when we are projecting our voice. We did some humming, beginning with humming in our chest, up to our neck, to our mouth and even to our nose. Feeling the vibrations of the humming and the changes in tone as well. He then lead us in a beautiful song with the sign language. We made an attempt to learn the song and get some voice practice in.

Monologue Work: We then worked in partners and small groups to practice our monologues and share costume ideas. I tried to speak individually to everyone there, but as always, we ran short on time! Marisa, Mags and Erin were able to get one on one coaching since they hadn't been able to perform their monologues during the second rehearsal.

Vagina Entrance Notes: Marisa arrived towards the end of the workshop and we discussed the vagina entrance; it's going to be beautiful! She will arrive around 11am or 12pm on Saturday to put it in place. We have decided that the second entrance will be wheel chair accessible, as the vagina entrance will not be wide enough for this. The second entrance will be surrounded by fairy lights and the doors will be propped open to create an open entrance feeling for both entrances and the doors leading to the wheel chair accessible entrance as well.

Ticket Sales: I've emailed Hannah to get the word on ticket sales. Will let you all know the response and how ticket sales are going. Be sure to contact her directly if you have any ticket queries.

Only 5 more days before our show!

More notes in regards to Friday's Final Dress Rehearsal forthcoming.

Have a gr-eat week!

Kara

Minutes from Rehearsal Two, Looking Ahead

Well done, everyone! It was an action packed evening at the Central Library last Thursday, from 6pm to 9pm, although folks began gathering around 5.30pm. Thanks to those that brought biscuits and water for our rehearsal.

Rehearsal Two: Allan Bell joined us and took us through a grounding exercise to get us focussed for our monologues. We went through the script with impromptu blocking, making due with the space we had on stage. We organised the chairs in two rows of six on a 'v' formation. We will try to go for two rows of twelve once the stage is cleared and we can see how the space is. Otherwise we will change seating arrangements after the intermission, those in the back moving to the front row and vice versa. We took notes in our scripts for blocking. I will also be finalising blocking with those attending at the workshop on Sat. and email any other necessary notes in regards to blocking to those unable to attend.

Allan and I were able to give constructive feedback for almost all of the monologues performed. Unfortunately, we began running out of time and were unable to get through all of them. Sue, Marisa and Erin were unable to perform theirs. I had hoped we could squeeze them in, but the security guard came knocking and we had to shuffle off in a hurry. Not sure if everyone got their red card for their monologues, I will bring it along again to the workshop Sat. as well as the dress rehearsal next Friday. Carrie and Mags were unable to attend the rehearsal for personal reasons, I stood in for Carrie with Ayanna and Harriet and we passed Mags monologue, do to time constraints. I am confident we will have no problem with the run through on Friday, as we will have time to work on specific monologues with many of you Sat. and will not stop for notes/feedback. I will email those of you tomorrow evening with the feedback from Allan and I which we were unable to share at the rehearsal.

Press: We had the press officer from Islington (I think Harriet's office?) at our rehearsal to take pictures and get a couple quotes. She was planning to pass on her photos and quotes to local newspapers. Sarah Taylor has also sent out press releases and contacted local press as well to invite them to the show and let them know what amazing things we are all doing for V-Day Islington 2007!

Programme: The programme was completed by Sunday evening, thanks to Eli for her article contributions, a friend of mine and his excellent photo shop work and my wonderful husband who helped me with the formatting. It was a sleepless couple of nights, but I think we will be happy with how the programme turned out!

Tech stuff: Noel has returned and is looking forward to seeing everyone Sat. He has been busy getting things organised with Ayanna on the tech side of things, so we will have a full run through with lights and sound equipment next Fri. I will be working on a pre-show slide show which Maria is creating a music soundtrack for. She is also creating a vagina entrance for our show!!!! Isabelle has been working on advertising and spreading the word.

Dress Rehearsal: Although next Friday we will begin our rehearsal at 6pm, I am going to encourage you to come directly after work so that we can have time to have dinner and relax a bit before getting into the run through. Harriet is organising for us to have some food and drink to get us through the evening. I will email an agenda for the night mid-week next week. Just wanted to get you thinking about coming after work so that we have ample time.

Costumes: If you have any costume questions, please feel free to email me or we can talk at the workshop on Sat, for those of you coming. I've just gotten my dress and need to pull together some red accessories!

Vagina Warriors: I still need help with organising the balloons. Anyone?

Post Show Celebration: Harriet and I have been working on finding a place for us to join for drinks after the show on Sat, near to where the Central library is. We don't have a place fully organised yet, anyone know a place, you are welcome to recommend. We have both looked into a couple that won't work. I am now looking into the Alwyne, which seems large enough to host us and Harriet has found a place that wouldn't mind us 'crashing' in as a large group, called the Metro Bar. Again, if you have ideas, feel free to see if they are feasible for us.

Thanks everyone for their hard work and dedication. Will email those notes from the rehearsal performances tomorrow evening.

All the best!

Kara

Saturday Workshop

Hello All,

Just wanted to send out a short reminder about this Saturday's workshop at the Central Library from 11am to 1pm. Both Noel and Allan will be with us and after some warm up and voice exercises with Noel, the three of us will be available to work with you one on one as well as in small groups. I know that not all of you are able to attend, but that many of you are interested in/planning on being there. Please let me know if you are attending, just to get an idea of who will be there. I am aware already of some of you that are unable to come, so no need to let me know if you won't be there.

Looking forward to seeing most of you on Saturday. I will also finalise blocking and for those of you not there, will send emails in regards to this. Please bring a pencil and script for any notes.

Still to come: minutes and feedback from Thursday's second rehearsal.

Hope you are having a great week. I've begun putting my outfit together for our show.....Fun stuff!

Kara

Spotlight Campaign

I will be sharing some of this information at the rehearsal Thursday, but thought I would send it on to each of you in detail so you know where the remainder of the proceeds from our production will be going (10%) as well as in case you'd like to research the organisations themselves.

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY!!!

The list below is organizations that will be beneficiaries of this year's V-Day Spotlight on Women in Conflict Zones.

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HAITI
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AFASDA - Association Femmes Soleil d' Haiti - AFASDA is a locally based (Cap Haitien) solely volunteer organization that networks and raises awareness about violence facing women. A primary focus of AFASDA's work is on providing assistance not available elsewhere to women who suffer political rape (Haiti).

URAMEL - Unite de Recherche at d'action Medico - Legale - URAMEL is an organization of legal and medical professionals working voluntarily to promote a better administration of justice though the understanding of forensic medicine and how it can impact cases of abuse towards women.

ENFOFANM - Organisation de Defense des Droits des Femmes - ENFOFANM (Info-Women) operates from the premise that access to information is key to empowering women to play an active role in building democracy in Haiti. Through communication and documentation of feminist literature and women's issues that started with a newsletter in 1991, extended to radio in 1997 and then into TV in 2005, they preserve the memory of the Haitian Women's Movement, safeguarding its heritage and addressing the gender equality that still exists in Haiti today.


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AFGHANISTAN
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RAWA - Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan - RAWA is the oldest political/social organization of Afghan women struggling for peace, freedom, democracy and women's rights in fundamentalism-blighted Afghanistan since 1977.

Arghan is a cooperative of men and women in Kandahar Afghanistan that produces natural skin-care products with local raw materials found in the orchards of southern Afghanistan - almonds, apricots, pomegranates, the precious blossoms ofRosa damascena. The result is a unique line of soaps and oils, whose aesthetic beauty and skin-nourishing virtues are truly unparalleled. Arghan is committed to providing women with dignified employment remunerated at a fair level, as well as an equal share in the decision-making process.

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DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
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Panzi Hospital - Specializing in the treatment of sexually assaulted women in the Congo, including the treatment of traumatic fistula .

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ASIA
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The Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan - The Korean Council was established in 1990 by eighteen groups of social organizations and women's organizations in order to help the victims of the militarism based sexual slavery instituted by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II.

Taipei Women's Rescue Foundation - TWRF works to rescue, and provide counseling, to women and children victims of sex trafficking and domestic violence.

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MIDDLE EAST
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KAFA (enough) Violence and Exploitation - KAFA is a non-profit, non-political civil society organization that seeks to mitigate the causes and results of violence and exploitation of women and children through advocacy, lobbying, raising awareness, and by offering social and legal services to vulnerable cases.

OWFI - Organization of Women's Freedom in Iraq - is the only national women's organization advocating for a secular society based on democracy and respect for human rights in accordance with international standards. OWFI is working to provide a sanctuary from violence for Iraqi women, who cite the lack of personal security as the largest problem they face in post-invasion Iraq. Rape has dramatically increased in the social chaos following the US invasion. 'Honor killings' of rape survivors by male family members have increased as the incidence of rape has risen. In response, OWFI has established five women's shelters--in Baghdad, Kirkuk, Erbil, and Nasariyeh--to provide Iraqi women with a place to turn for security and support.

Rehearsal Two

Hello wonderful ladies!

Tomorrow is our second rehearsal. Just wanted to send out a few notes for you beforehand.

Rehearsal Two: Central Library, 6-9pm. Arrive at 5.30pm if you would like to purchase any tickets from Hannah. She will be there until 6.20pm. Announcements and press will be from 6-6.30. From 6.30 we will do the run through and then directly afterwards a cast photo. Should finish by 9, possibly before. We need to make sure we have enough time for blocking and the run through, which is why I have the venue reserved until 9pm.

Costume notes: Think vaginally! Any colour you would associate with your vagina should work. Red feather boas have been used to great effect. Keep in mind the set and working to compliment its design. You will get a better idea of this at our rehearsal. It will be very basic and I will describe it to you once we are working on the stage. Each monologue should ultimately influence each costume. You can see if local designers will donate outfits. But you can also design your own wonderful creations. Eli and I went to a couple op shops over the weekend in Islington and Angel (Salvation Army, Cancer Research) and there are red items everywhere that can be integrated into your outfit or used an an accent piece, and for very little money. Our main idea is wearing black with red accents. Your outfit should reflect your and the monologue you are reading. You should feel comfortable, sexy, empowered, whatever you want to feel and feel you should feel while on the stage reading your monologue. Talk to your 'buddy' about costume ideas. Go shopping with a friend. Have a friend over to look through your wardrobe. Piece together whatever you feel is right for you. Erin shared a link from the show in Japan in the town she organised an event in last year. Check out the link for photos of their show and get costume ideas as well! Shimane V-Day 2007 You will bring your costumes to the dress rehearsal on 23rd March.

Spotlight Campaign: I will be reading/sharing some information about the organisations receiving the 10% benefits from the funds we raise at our event.

Full Cast Photo: After the run through of the script, we will take a full cast photo. This will be used in the programme. The programme has to be submitted by the end of the weekend, so I need to take the photo then. I thought we would do it after the run through since a couple people may be a little late to the rehearsal and I want to get started promptly at 6.30pm.

Press: I have no idea who will be at the rehearsal, I just know that Sarah has written a press release to be submitted to local press and will then call to see if anyone is interested in attending our rehearsal to take photos and interview cast members.

Reminder: Please bring your monologue written/typed on half sheets of A4 paper as I will be distributing RED card at the rehearsal which will be used to glue your lines onto. You might want to make notes in your script or a photocopy of your monologue for staging (minor) or whatever, so bring a pencil. But the actual monologue for the night of the performance will be glued to as many cards as you need, that way you can use large font and spread it out on a few cards. If you are unsure of what I mean, I will show you an example at the rehearsal and you can take the cards away from you to create your cue cards at home.

Ok, I think that's it. I hope all is well with you and look forward to seeing you all tomorrow.

Kara

Notes Regarding Rehearsal Two

Hello All,

Press: Just wanted to let you know that some local press have been invited to attend the first part of our rehearsal. They will be there for 6pm and I have asked that they leave no later than 15mins after we begin the script run through at 6.30pm. They may want to ask questions/interview some of us and or take photos. I thought it would be good for them to get some action photos while we begin blocking the first part of the play. I also wanted to ensure that they won't stay because I want you to have a space where you feel comfortable performing on stage for the first time. We will begin at 6.30pm on the dot because we need all the time we can get to get through the first full run through of the production. There will be no microphones at the rehearsal, but they will be there on dress rehearsal night.

Tickets: Hannah will be at the Central Library from 5.30-6.20pm in order to take care of ticket sales. You must have your two reserved tickets purchased by this date, so if you would like to take care of the money/form and ticket exchange with Hannah, please plan to arrive at the Central Library at 5.30pm because we will begin the rehearsal at 6pm and the run through at 6.30pm.

Personal Monologue: Have you been working on your personal 'monologue' challenge that I put forth to you? Just a friendly reminder. Also, if you choose not to share it with us on dress rehearsal night, you are still welcome to share with us the process of creating your own monologue or some feedback in general. Whatever you feel most comfortable doing.

Costume notes to come....

Kara

Final Cast List and Buddies

Here it is, the final cast list. We will also put a few facts into the run through, which will be read by Louise. Harriet will get these to me before our rehearsal on Thursday and I will place them in accordingly.

I will be reading the short introductions to the monologues that include an intro in the script.

Introduction: Sarah T., Patricia, Trish
Hair: Sangita
The 'Wear and Say' Lists: Michelle, Monica, Ana
The Flood: Annie
The Vagina Workshop: Heather
Vagina Happy Fact: Michelle
Because He Liked to Look At It: Catherine
I Was 12. My Mother Slapped Me: Ayanna, Erin, Amanda, Ana
Not So Happy Fact: Catherine
The Memory of Her Face: Carrie (Baghdad, facts at end of monologue), Ayanna (Islamabad), Harriet (Juarez)
My Angry Vagina: Sharon

*Short intermission.

My Vagina Was My Village: Mags
The Little Coochi Snorcher That Could: Sue A.
The 'Smell' List: Trish, Amanda, Sirvan
My Short Skirt: Sarah T.
Reclaiming Cunt: Eli
A six-year-old girl was asked...: Marisa
The Woman Who Liked to Make Vagina's Happy: Erin
I Was There In the Room: Sue S.
Spotlight Campaign Information/Monologue: Kara
Honouring Vagina Warriors: Eli

The play runs 90 minutes without the two additional monologues. We will have a better idea of our show length after the first run through on Thursday.

Buddies:
Sarah T -- Carrie
Eli -- Erin
Mags -- Sharon
Patricia, Trish, Amanda, Sirvan
Ayanna, Harriet (Carrie)
Marisa -- Sue S --Annie
Sangita -- Sue A.
Michelle, Monica, Ana
Catherine -- Heather

I've put you with women whom you may be working on a monologue together or have practiced together during our first rehearsal. Some of you have more than one buddy due to sharing a monologue and numbers. The goal of the buddy is to practice together during rehearsals as well as meet outside of rehearsals, if you choose. A buddy can also be someone you contact for support or encouragement as well as share ideas about your costume and your monologue. For this purpose, I have included everyone's email in the cc list so that you can email your buddy before the rehearsal on Thursday to see how she is doing!

Alternatively, if you need to contact me for any reason, please do so. I am available in the evenings after 6pm by phone and throughout the day on email, except for Fridays when I volunteer, I do not have computer access and generally do not work at home in the evening as it is Friday!

Stay tuned for more information coming your way in order to be ready for Thursday's Rehearsal...

Kara