Nirbhaya: The Play
After two years on the road, Nirbhaya the play finally comes to TORONTO! The first show premiered in August 2013 at the Edinburgh Festival.
Nirbhaya is based on the Delhi gang rape incident that happened on a bus in 2012. This incident took place on December 16th 2012; it involved a young woman who was traveling with her friend to Delhi. While traveling on this private bus she was gang raped by six people, including the bus driver, and her friend was beaten.
Nirbhaya, meaning fearless, was the name given to the victim since India does not allow press to publish a rape victim’s name.
A while after the incident one of the actors in the play, Poorna Jagannathan, contacted Yael Farber to create Nirbhaya in theater. “They wanted to show the public that we can break the cycle of violence by breaking the silence”, said Kelly Thornton, Artistic Director of Nightwood Theatre. Thornton also mentions, “the play is based on testimonials of the actors themselves and their own experiences”.
Pamela Sinha, Rukhsar Kabir, Poorna Jagannathan, Priyanka Bose, Sneha Jawale and Ankur Vikal. Photo: Sinbad Phgura
“The cause of rape does not have to be by cultural influence, but can be related to all cultures and ethnicities”, said Thornton. Everyone may experience this theoretically, but it does not have to do with one’s cultural background; anyone, anywhere can experience this at any time, gender aside.
The play is set to premiere in Toronto from November 18th to 29th at the Harbourfront Centre. For more information visit www.nirbhayatheplay.com.
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