Damsel Productions Announces Abi Zakarian's FABRIC At Soho Theatre And London Tour

Damsel Productions today announces Abi Zakarian's Fabric in support of Solace Women's Aid, a charity which works to bring an end to the harm done through domestic and sexual violence. Hannah Hauer-King directs a brand new production with Nancy Sullivan as Leah. Opening at Soho Theatre on 13 September, with previews from 11 September, and closing on 22 September, the production then tours to non-traditional theatre spaces in four of Solace's target London boroughs 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.

Following performances at Soho Theatre, Fabric will tour to non-traditional theatre spaces in four of Solace's target boroughs - Hammersmith and Fulham, Southwark, Islington and Camden. Alongside the show there will be a workshop programme on sexual violence prevention - with three different workshops offered in each borough:

· Violence prevention for young people

· Bystander intervention for women

· Specialist panel with Q&A

Further details of the tour will be announced shortly.

Co-founders of Damsel Productions, Kitty Wordsworth and Hannah Hauer-King, said today, "After our recent production Grotty - a piece focused on the lesbian experience in London - Damsel continues to prioritise projects that explore under-represented narratives and engage with broader audiences. Our production of Fabric pursues the same ethos of working with all-women teams, to promote and cultivate visibility for women focused narratives. Through working with Solace we hope to extend the play's reach and audience, by bringing the production to non-conventional theatre venues around London."

Mary Mason, CEO of Solace Women's Aid, added, "We are delighted to be involved with the upcoming performance of Fabric, an extremely important and powerful production. Raising awareness and starting conversations about rape and sexual violence, particularly through the arts, is vital to calling out abuse and ensuring survivors get the support they need. Together we can end violence and abuse.

By working with Damsel Productions and having a presence at each performance of Fabric we hope that more woman and girls can come forward, get support and recover from the trauma of sexual violence. We are excited to be holding a Gala Fundraiser performance which will allow the public to stand with survivors across the capital and raise funds to keep our life-saving services going."

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, she 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).

To post a comment, you must register and login.