Survivors' Circus Tour 2016 By Troupe Director Sarvenaz Moshfegh Asiedu

The Kiva Center was the perfect ending to a fantastic and inspirational run with the Survivors Circus. We were welcomed wholeheartedly and really felt attended to the Kiva frequency.

The performance was once again a one of a kind experience as the players expressed survivor archetypes in greater depth than ever before. The Quiet One drew the audience in with her truthtelling intensity and dance moves; Miss Pussy was in top form, showing the world how to be "vulnerable and strong at the same time"; and  Spider Lady's cathartic flesh eating was as delectable as ever.

It was clear to me in the "talk back" that no detail was lost on this audience!  Many thoughtful comments were shared as people describe their resonance with the Survivor Circus archetypes.

The participants in the workshop were playful and willing to explore themselves as well as hold space for others. It truly was a groundbreaking experience to facilitate the creation of new circus characters and guide them through the fog. Leila and I facilitated together for the first time seamlessly.

It has been a life changing experience for me to work together with everyone on this project. I believe more than ever in healing with the creative force, mind/body/spirit. "Pick up your mind and go!"

Reflections on Facilitation at "My Sister's House" by STP Troupe Director Sarvenaz Moshfegh Asiedu

Over 90 percent of incarcerated women have reported experiencing sexual violence. Similar  percentages apply to women who are struggling with addiction.  Although addiction and incarceration has not played a part in my personal survivor story, it has in most of the men and women I have gotten to know through my brief professional and academic career in what we call “the mental health field”; A field that systematically ignores and pathologizes survivors of sexual violence.

Being a facilitator and touring company director with Survivor Theatre Project for the last two seasons, has been a pivotal experience for me as a survivor, artist and academic. Exploring the survivor experience through theatre in STP has been a crossroads where many aspects of my mind, body and spirit are able to join; my personal survivor story, my professional training in Drama, Expressive Arts Therapy and Trauma-informed approaches to healing, along with the experiences, wisdom and hope of so many survivors I have shared space with in the various roles I have played throughout my lifetime.

Last season, I supported the STP touring company in creating and performing, “Called to Speak”.  At the time I was employed as a “Female Treatment Specialist” through Adcare Criminal Justice Services at the Boston office of Community Corrections.  The touring company was able to perform for the women mandated to the O.C.C. for drug treatment.  This experience led into plans to bring STP to a recovery community in the Boston area.

For 12 weeks, I spent Mondays from 9-10:30 a.m. at “My Sister's House”, a state-funded recovery program for women struggling with substance addiction. As is common in most government-funded recovery programs, the majority of clients are survivors of both the Criminal Injustice System, and sexual violence. For 12 weeks we got to know each other, played theatre games, made art, created puppets, read tarot cards, and broke silence about sexual violence.

The highlight of this experience for me was at the premier for “Survivors' Circus; Journey Through the Fog”, when all the women showed up.  “We took a vote last night, and decided to come,” one of them told me. Together, they made their way downtown to Emerson College  from Roxbury on the bus to see the show.  One of the women in my group had even suffered a stroke a few weeks earlier; she was there. THAT is the solidarity and love that Survivor Theatre Project inspires.

My Irish, African-American, Latina and Russian Sisters from “My Sister's House” sat in V.I.P front row seating, wide-eyed through the entire show and talk back.  “That was me, up there,”,one woman said, “I cried through the whole thing. Thank you.” 

Cast members of “The Survivors' Circus,” Noemi Paz and Vanity Reyes volunteered to visit the group the weeks following the show to share more about their journeys as artists and as survivors.  It was evident that after seeing the performance, women in the group felt even safer sharing their survivor stories. The power of STP is the person-to-person connections.  We are all in this together.

To all of my sisters at “My Sister's House”, thank you for sharing your jokes, your horrors and most of all, your hearts.  

Your friend ‘till the end, 
Sarvi.

Leila Zainab, Stepping Into My Fearless Self

I wasn’t always a survivor. “Survivor” is a role, a title, an energy I have stepped into upon joining the Survivor Theatre Project. I was seven years old when I was first molested by my father, or at least that was the earliest that I can remember. Growing up, the violence in my home was everywhere.  We were undocumented immigrants in a constant state of financial instability. The stress in our home was palpable. My parents had 4 jobs between the two of them, and almost never slept. I spent my days escaping into stories. My after-school theatre program was where I found refuge from the chaos of it all. For me, the sexual violence was not just a single act, it was often mixed with elements of physical and emotional violence, fear, abuse, yelling, manipulation, and aggression. All the while, I was silenced. As an undocumented immigrant, I was told that I was not able to tell the authorities for fear of deportation. It was a stifling dynamic, and one that is all too common.  

As part of my healing and empowerment, I now take every opportunity I can to speak my story
openly and confidently. Survivor Theatre Project has offered me the platform to step into my fearless self; the part of me that knows that sharing my story is part of my own healing, as well as what our world needs in order to eradicate sexual violence at its roots. STP has shown me that I can be proud of my story, that I am not alone, and that others might be inspired to speak out, too! Most importantly, speaking my story has allowed me to better understand the dynamics of violence, especially how it manifested in my own home. By speaking it, I come to know my story and experience so well, that even in the face of the naysayers, I grow stronger, and ultimately stand more firmly in my truth.

Saying Goodbye to Ming Chang, Women's Center Coordinator

Back in 2008 I was a little lost. I was finishing a Theatre Education degree and approached the Director of the Cambridge Women's Center to see if she could help. I knew I wanted to work with other survivors of sexual abuse and do something artistic and kind of radical. I just didn't know what exactly. I met Ming Chang on the first floor of the Center on a crisp spring day. She shook my hand and gave me a warm smile with a twinkle in her eye. The Center was calm, some women were cooking in the kitchen. We went to her office and sat down at the table together, with the light streaming in through the window. Over the next hour, Ming and I talked about healing, the arts, women's space, obstacles to recovery, social change, and much more.....Ming was a match sparking all kinds of new ideas and thoughts about what I wanted to do in my own healing, and in my life. Since that day, Ming has been a steadfast support, cheerleader, work horse, and anchor for not only my project but for so many other women connected to the Women's Center. I honestly don't know how she has kept it all together and been so energizing time and time again. Ming, you've been a champion for Survivor Theatre Project, and a hero and mentor for me. Thank you so much, and I wish you all the best.  - Melissa Redwin

Survivor Theatre Project and the Women's Educational Center community give a hearty welcome to NEW Women's Center Coordinator: Cho Salma Win. Cho comes to us with a recent background in union organizing, both in the medical field with the Committee of Interns and Residents and also with the ACLU of PA, where she served as Interim Project Director for the Clara Bell Duvall Reproductive Freedom Project. In addition, she worked as a Program Coordinator for the Alzheimer's Association. Cho has a Masters of Social Work degree with specialization in program coordination.

Celebrating the Bright Tiger by Melissa Redwin & Cynthia Mochowski

Earlier this year, Survivor Theatre Project lost our first survivor/artist. Elisabeth Ann Morrison of Cambridge, Massachusetts died on April 10, 2013. Elisabeth joined Survivor Theatre Project in 2010 to create and perform Memories of Trees, a play based on stories of women survivors of sexual abuse. Elisabeth took her own life at the age of 56.  As members of STP we are deeply saddened by her sudden departure and we join her family and friends to celebrate her many accomplishments.

Elisabeth Morrison was a Buddhist, a social activist, and a lover of dogs and cats. She was a member of the first Dartmouth College class to include women. After graduation, she moved to Cambridge and took up union organizing with office workers at Boston University.  She received her law degree from Northeastern Law School. Her primary focus as an attorney was the welfare of abused children. Elisabeth’s Buddhist daily practice grounded and sustained her life-long efforts to relieve suffering and make the world a better and kinder place.

Survivor Theatre project alumna Antonieta Gimeno remembers Elisabeth:

“Elisabeth lived her life as a warrior. She did not allow herself to be defined by mental illness, but by her deep sense of justice, integrity, compassion and love. Her sweet and gentle spirit was always a reminder, particularly for those of us who live with depression and trauma, that life is an opportunity in the face of pain and challenges. Her presence always reminded me of a gentle and clear pool of water where I could reflect my own life. We love you and honor you Elisabeth.”

Elisabeth did not share very much about her trauma history during our theatre process together, but I believe she found in STP a place to be herself, to be wacky and outlandish, and to creatively express her values and hopes for a world based in respect, love and peace. We will remember most her keen sensitivity to others, her soulful wit, her vulnerability, and her serene and dynamic poetry performances. Elisabeth will remain beloved to those of us at STP, and we will continue to be inspired by our “Bright Tiger.”

Bright beautiful tiger

beckoning Little Beth and Elisabeth:

summon up even more bravery

by believing in yourself      - Elisabeth Morrison

If you wish to honor Elisabeth’s life with a gift, friends and family would appreciate donations to SGI-USA in Elisabeth Morrison’s name, to Boston Community Center of SGI-USA, 930 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston 02215.

UNDERSTANDING THE AFTERMATH

Victims of sexual assault are:

3 times more likely to suffer from depression.

6 times more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.

13 times more likely to abuse alcohol.

26 times more likely to abuse drugs.

4 times more likely to contemplate suicide.

These and many more statistics can be found at:  http://www.rainn.org.

More research is desperately needed to understand how deeply connected childhood sexual abuse, sex trafficking, ritual abuse, incest and other types of sexual violence are linked to suicide. More safe spaces are needed in social services for those people who have extreme traumatic abuse histories. Survivors of extreme abuse are often silenced and isolated in support groups and survivor spaces, when other survivors become unable to hear to their stories. Where can they go? Where can they be heard and understood?

If you are interested in working with Survivor Theatre Project in creating performances that build awareness around sexual abuse and violence, please contact us!  survivortheatreproject@gmail.com