‘Hurried Steps’ by Dacia Maraini - Play Reading

Performed by RedVentures Theatre Action Group, Brisbane. ‘Hurried Steps’ tells a series of stories of women and girls from around the world who have experienced violence and persecution. The stories differ in their cultural contexts but have in common heartfelt, optimistic beginnings and a devastating progression. In writing this play, Dacia Maraini adapted, amalgamated and dramatised testimonies given to Amnesty International. The performance, in a rehearsed-reading style, will be followed by a forum discussion to allow further exploration of the issues raised, with a panel of people experienced in working in women’s support services. “With hurried steps these women flee from pain and discrimination. But all too often these steps are halted, stopped, nailed down, made to turn back upon themselves… Inspired by real facts reported by Amnesty International, the text is a testimony, an accusation, a gesture of solidarity and acknowledgment of all those women who are still prisoners of forced marriage, of a violent family, of a pimp, of tradition or of age-old discriminations which are so difficult to overcome.” (Dacia Maraini, 2013)