Damsel Productions Announce London Tour Dates And Workshop Programme For Abi Zakarian's FABRIC

Damsel Productions today announces the London tour dates for Abi Zakarian's Fabric, a new production in support of Solace Women's Aid. Following a run at Soho Theatre, the production tours to non-traditional theatre spaces - Hammersmith Town Hall, Kingsgate Community Centre, Goodinge Community Centre and Draper Hall, located in four boroughs identified by Solace Women's Aid as target areas. Directed by Hannah Hauer-King and starring Nancy Sullivan as Leah, Fabric opens at Soho Theatre on 13 September, with previews from 11 September, and closes on 22 September before touring from 24 September to 6 October.

"I'm revolting. According to his mum. According to everyone."

Leah is smart, kind, recently promoted, and finally seems to 'have it all' when she gets to be the Mrs to Mr Ben Cavendish. But she finds herself revolting; revolting against a society and a judicial system that just won't listen. Fabric gives voice to one woman's experience of sexual violence and trauma. Through Leah we bear witness to how grey areas seep into everyday life, and how a million small things - some seemingly harmless - can result in one terrible act.

Each performance during the tour will be accompanied by an opportunity to learn more and get involved. The first performance at each venue will be followed by a Q&A session with a specialist panel. The second and third performances will be preceded by active workshops on bystander intervention; the first for young people aged 16-25 and the second for people of all ages and genders.

A post-show panel discussion will be held 24 September, 27 September, 1 October & 4 October focussing on what's next in the battle to end violence against women, with writer Abi Zakarian alongside representatives from Solace and their partner organisations.

Open to 16+

Sexual harassment can be difficult to identify, and even more difficult to respond to. This session will help participants learn how to recognise sexual harassment and equip them with different strategies to safely respond and challenge behaviours, when it is happening to them and to someone else.

Workshop on bystander intervention for young people (16 -25)
25 September, 28 September, 2 October & 5 October

Workshop on bystander intervention for everyone (16+)
26 September, 29 September, 3 October & 6 October

Abi Zakarian is an award-winning playwright and currently a member of the RSC's writers group and the Dangerous Space collective. Her plays include I Have A Mouth And I Will Scream (VAULT Festival - winner of the People's Choice VAULT Award), The Best Pies In London (Shakespeare in Shoreditch Festival), This Is Not An Exit (The Other Place/Royal Court Theatre), LULU7 (Drayton Arms Theatre), Swifter, Higher, Stronger (Roundhouse) and A Thousand Yards (Southwark Playhouse).

Nancy Sullivan plays Leah. Her theatre credits include, The Country Wife (Southwark Playhouse), My Fair Lady (Naples Opera House, Teatro San Carlo), The Beggar's Opera (Storyhouse), Gutted (Marlowe Theatre), The Rise and Fall Of Little Voice (Birmingham REP/West Yorkshire Playhouse), The Fastest Clock in The Universe (Old Red Lion), The Good Person Of Sichuan (Colchester Mercury Theatre), Les Miserables (Queen's Theatre), Judy The Righteous (Trafalgar Studios), Never Forget (UK tour), The Wizard of Oz (West Yorkshire Playhouse) and The Likes of Us (Sydmonton Festival). Her television credits include Harry Price Ghost Hunter; and for film, Les Miserables.

Hannah Hauer-King is Artistic Director and co-founder of all-female theatre company Damsel Productions. For Damsel, Hannah has directed Grotty (Bunker Theatre), Lilith (Damsel Develops, Bunker Theatre), Fury, Brute (Soho Theatre) and Dry Land (Jermyn Street Theatre). Other directing credits include Breathe (Bunker Theatre), Witt 'n Camp (Edinburgh Festival Fringe), Alginate (Bunker Theatre), Dead Playwright (Old Red Lion), Clay (Pleasance Theatre), and Hypernormal (Vaults Festival). Her Associate/Assistant Director credits include Romeo & Juliet (Shakespeare's Globe), Radiant Vermin (Soho Theatre) and Daytona (Theatre Royal Haymarket).

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