‘They say’ is an inquiry into the friction between the experience and representation of sexual violence. Drawing from the stories and struggles of survivors of rape, the sharing looks at the way in which truth, evidence, proof and justice are (re)produced and resisted, in the different worlds a survivor begins to inhabit. The performance is inspired by the ‘Dignity March,’ organised by Rashtriya Garima Abhiyan a two-month long bus journey across 24 states in the country. Led by survivors of rape and their families, the march challenged the lack of social and systemic accountability around sexual violence, which often results in shame, stigma and violence for the survivor. We travelled with the women and their families, documenting their experiences and struggles. This performance emerges from the routine of sweat, laughter, fatigue, questions, fear and hope that shaped our journey.
The performance is guided by guidance of senior theatre practitioner, Anish Victor.