The Comfort of Women
Three plays by Thelma Quince marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/end-violence-against-women
7:30 Friday 19 November 2021
Edmund Room, Bury St Edmunds Cathedral
Tickets £12 from 01284 705792 and brian.wesley77@gmail.com
In aid of Amnesty International and Freedom from Torture, with a cast from Bury St Edmunds Theatre Royal Writers
MEDIA RELEASE
FUNDRAISING EVENING FOR AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL AND FREEDOM FROM TORTURE AT ST EDMUNDSBURY CATHEDRAL
Dramatisations of sexual violence against women, written by local writer Thelma Quince, are to be performed “script in hand” on Friday 19 November 2021 at 7.30 p.m. in the Edmund Room, St Edmundsbury Cathedral, under the collective title of “The Comfort of Women” The proceeds from the evening will be split equally between Amnesty International and Freedom from Torture. These dramatisations have been written to mark the “International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women” on November 25.
Introducing the plays Thelma Quince writes: “In wars women are raped: seen as the spoils of war but there have also been times when rape has not just been condoned but has been used and encouraged systematically for political, religious, ethnic or cultural reasons. Actual transcripts of abused women have been used. Surprisingly, it is not until late in the 20th century that such abuse is internationally acknowledged as crimes against humanity or war crimes. The evening will however end on notes of hope.”
During the evening music will be played by local harpist Ann Chorley.
For more information about the plays, please contact Thelma Quince taquince@btinternet.com.
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is marking the 60th anniversary this year since its founding by Peter Benenson after he read an article about two Portuguese students imprisoned for 7 years for raising a toast to freedom. Today it is a global movement of 10 million people in over 150 countries. The Bury St Edmunds Group has been in existence for approximately 40 years and writes letters, hosts speakers and raises funds for Amnesty International.
Freedom from Torture
Originally founded as the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture, Freedom from Torture’s clinicians offer one-to-one and group therapy to torture survivors arriving in the UK. Medico-legal reports provide forensic evidence of torture to support the survivor’s application for asylum. The charity also undertakes advocacy and policy work. There has been a group in Suffolk raising funds for its work for over 20 years.