Press release – for immediate publication
Playwright Backs Calls For Consent to go on Curriculum
First performance of Lynda Radley and Pepperdine Scotland’s Fringe world premiere will promote work of Scottish Rape Crisis charities
Playwright Lynda Radley and the Pepperdine Scotland theatre company will dedicate the opening night of their new play The Interference to Scotland’s Rape Crisis charities.
The performance and reception, on 3 August, is intended to encourage discussion of attitudes towards sexual violence and raise awareness of the charities’ work to promote education on the issue of consent among young people.
Both Lynda and Pepperdine Scotland are previous Fringe First winners and The Interference brings them together in a production that explores the aftermath of a campus rape. The play is set in the USA, with a college American football star as the perpetrator, but the disturbing social attitudes it reveals, and the sense that it is the survivor who is on trial, are equally familiar in Scotland.
During her research Lynda became increasingly aware of the work of Scotland’s Rape Crisis charities.
She said: “If society is to be free from sexual violence and bullying young people must be taught respect for one another and fully understand consent. I’ve been told by Rape Crisis workers that the young people they speak to are open to discussing these issues, but understand little about the law.
“There is already good work being done by charities, and others, to enable young people to make educated choices about their relationships. But our approach is piecemeal, which can’t be right in an environment where many young people experience peer pressure, or develop misconceptions due to online pornography.
“California, where the cast of The Interference are from, is making consent a compulsory part of the curriculum – Scotland should give serious thought to doing the same.”
The play’s cast is made up of students from Pepperdine University in the USA, which has been presenting performances at the Fringe since 1985.
There will be a collection for Rape Crisis Glasgow, and Pepperdine Scotland will also be contributing to its funds. The audience will be able to meet and talk to representatives from the charity after the show.
Isabelle Kerr, Manager of Rape Crisis Glasgow, said: “Sexual violence continues to dominate headlines across the world and organisations such as Rape Crisis Centres strive to highlight the importance of understanding that sexual consent is a critical part of any relationship, no matter how short lived.
“We need to move past outdated myths that reinforce a victim blaming culture which silences survivors and makes them responsible for the abuses perpetrated against them.
“We need to throw out the attitudes that make us only see the potential of the perpetrator and the behaviour of the victim – he’s a talented football player or his career will be ruined, she was drinking, flirting or kissing him. It’s essential to reframe those internalised biases so that we see the behaviour of the perpetrator and the potential of the victim.
“This production shows the impact of rape on the life of a young woman, and the danger of her potential being lost because of the behaviour of someone who didn’t care whether there was consent or not. If we want to change a whole culture, we need to have that visceral response to the reality of rape to keep us committed to the struggle.”
The Interference builds on the success of previous projects including 2012 Scotsman Fringe First Award winner Why Do You Stand There In The Rain?, and on Pepperdine Scotland’s interest in issues of social justice.
- Ends -
Notes to Editors
- The Interference by Lynda Radley is at C Venues C (Venue 34), Adam House, Chambers Street, Edinburgh from 3 to 16 August.
- The box office is on 0845 2601234 with online booking at www.ctheFestival.com
- Tickets: Weekend and weekday prices vary. Full price £8.50 to £11.50, concessions £7.50 to £9.50, with special prices of £5.50 to £7.50. See www.ctheFestival.com for the ticket price of each performance.
- Time: 15.45
- Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Age: 12+
For
media information about The Interference
contact Matthew Shelley on 07786
704299 or Matthew@Scottishfestivalspr.org
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