SEVEN is a spellbinding documentary play that shares not just one story but seven stories of courageous women who fought for the well-being of women, families, and children. See the performance on Friday, October 18 at 8 p.m.
Conversation with Alyse Nelson, President and CEO of Vital Voices
Even in the darkest times, one person, one voice, and a single act of courage can change the lives of thousands. SEVEN is a spellbinding documentary play that shares not just one story but seven stories of courageous women who fought for the well-being of women, families, and children. They defied life-threatening violence before creating significant improvements in their communities. Mason’s Center for the Arts is honored to present SEVEN on Friday, October 18 at 8 p.m.
The daring and tenacious women depicted in SEVEN “represent the best of humanity, dealing with the worst,” says Alyse Nelson, President, CEO, and co-founder of D.C. based Vital Voices. Vital Voices supported the creation of SEVEN, and Nelson worked with the show’s creator, Carol K. Mack, to connect a cadre of writers with the phenomenal women leaders whose stories shaped the play.
Mack conceived of the play after coming to a Vital Voices conference where she listened to Farida Azizi tell her story. Azizi fought against the marginalization of women in Afghanistan living under Taliban rule. She often traveled alone to rural districts to bring medical supplies and instruction to women who otherwise would have no care. She had to convince Taliban fighters that her work was of value to the local communities. Her remarkable tale of grit and determination inspired Mack to seek out other inspirational stories of female leaders. In collaboration with Nelson and her team, they sifted through the stories of 7000 women leaders in the Vital Voices network at the time to select the women highlighted in a play.
Though on the surface these women do not seem connected—hailing from seven different counties (Russia, Cambodia, Guatemala, Northern Ireland, Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan), with disparate educational, cultural, and economic backgrounds—all seven women faced resistance, death threats, and pervasive gender-based violence on the road to realizing their vision. “Across all things that divide, there are things that unite—bravely giving voice to violence against women is what unites these poignant stories," says Nelson.
From Russia, Marina Pisklakova-Parker recounts protecting women from domestic violence by founding the first hotline for victims; from Cambodia, Mu Sochua shares how she worked to rescue girls from human trafficking; from Guatemala and Afghanistan, Anabella De Leon and Farida Azizi tell how they dealt with death threats while giving voice to the poor and marginalized; from Nigeria and Pakistan, Hafsat Abiola and Mukhtar Mai advocate for women’s education and rights despite an environment of culturally condoned rape and violence; and from Northern Ireland, Inez McCormack relates her role in the 1998 Good Friday Peace Accords and her fight for equal rights and fair labor practices for women and minorities.
In addition to Mack, six playwrights including Anna Deavere Smith, Paula Cizmar, Catherine Filloux, Gail Kriegel, Ruth Margraff, and Susan Yankowitz conducted personal interviews with the seven women featured to build a tapestry of stories, that dramatizes their struggles and triumphs over resistance, death threats, and violence. Since the premiere in 2008, SEVEN has been translated into 27 languages and performed worldwide in over 30 countries. Beginning on October 12, L.A. Theatre Works with their signature style of radio-theatre will bring SEVEN to 27 venues across the United States.
Nelson admits that it was challenging to limit their scope to seven women and hopes that this play can be a launching pad for another round of stories. “Today, the Vital Voices network of worldwide women leaders has more than doubled in size to 18,000 people.” Founded in 1997 on the heels of the Fourth World Conference of Women: Action for Equality, Development, and Peace held by the United Nations, Vital Voices was created to make space for women to be heard. Vital Voices seeks out women leaders across the globe and provides them with mentorship, training, and a vast network to support their visionary ideas and realize their bold goals. Vital Voices invests in leaders because they take the responsibility to improve societies. “Women,” says Nelson, “bring forth a new model of leadership—one that is collaborative and inclusive and one that is driven by a strong sense of purpose.” That purpose leads to strengthened laws, job creation, and defended political freedoms.
With the celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment that granted women’s right to vote, the 25th anniversary for the World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace, and in the backdrop of the current #MeToo Movement, Nelson believes that now is a remarkable time for this play and powerful message. Nelson will be on hand for a pre-performance discussion beginning 45 minutes before the performance of L.A. Theatre Works: SEVEN on Friday, October 18 at 8 p.m.
L.A. Theatre Works: SEVEN performs on Friday, October 18 at 8 p.m. at the Center for the Arts at George Mason University. Tickets are available here.
Please note: SEVEN is based on stories of struggle and violence against women,and some content may not be suitable for young audience members. Parents are encouraged to explore the content to determine appropriateness for their children. Information about the women of SEVEN and their stories is available by visiting Vital Voices.