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PAPER BAG PEOPLE
York International Women's Week
Wed 7 & Thurs 8 March 2012, 7.30 pm
York St John University, Lord Mayor's Walk
Theatre Studio 3 (Quad South)
Tickets on the door: £5 (£3 conc.)

"I'M X YEARS OLD - WHEN WILL IT BE SAFE TO COME OUT?"

Through life stories, poetry and audience discussion we look at why so many women hide part of themselves for fear of prejudice and social exclusion - it's as if they wear paper bags which mask the 'shameful' parts. Why is this necessary in today's society? What is so shameful about having mental health problems, being a lesbian, suffering from domestic violence, being prey to an addiction or having a hidden disability? When will it be safe to come out...?

This show is part of York International Women's Week and will be available for booking from March onwards for workshops, peer empowerment, staff training, conferences, and events where discussion of these issues is a key factor. Let us know your needs and we will tailor a presentation to support your work - through life stories, poetry and forum theatre (see Encounters below).

Phone Sue Lister, Artistic Director, to discuss possibilities: 01904 488870

ENCOUNTERS A Forum Theatre Production
HOMELESSNESS A homeless older woman pauses to rest on a step in front of a souvenir shop. How do the passers by and the shop owner react?
TRAVELLING DREAM A woman with a learning difficulty dreams of travelling in Europe. How do her support worker and the supervisor deal with this idea?
NOT A GUINEA PIG A woman with a history of manic depression applies for a job as a tutor in Health Sciences at a university. Is she a suitable applicant? What sort of job is she fit to do?
CARE HOME CONCERNS An ageing woman in a care home has motor neurone disease and wants help to die…but her partner, a woman, is dead. What are the prejudices she faces in order to have her wishes met?
WELCOME TO PECKHAM A well-educated refugee from Nigeria and her children find themselves housed on a Peckham council estate next door to a BNP supporter and a Jamaican woman who has worked all her life in the NHS. How can they survive prejudice from both sides?
Yorkshire Outreach Each of these scenes is available as a springboard for future awareness raising, conferences, workshops, or peer empowerment. The Real People Theatre can also work with client groups to tailor-make appropriate scenes for use with peers or for staff training. Consider making good use of this York women's company to further your own work. Artistic Director, Sue Lister, welcomes your interest: