IN THE ABSENCE OF SILENCE (Chickenshed Theatre)*****

 

by Sophie

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9RnRxg88Fg&t=1s

Available until: Unknown

Content warning: contains very strong language (spoken and projected) with content and themes which some audiences may find upsetting. Recommended for ages 15yrs+. (You don’t see any violence, but there are very vivid descriptions.)

Note: The sound is very quiet and the subtitles are small so if you are hearing impaired, you might need the sound on full blast and/or sit close to the screen. It’s worth the extra effort.

In the Absence of Silence has been developed over a number of years through work with female survivors of domestic abuse. The idea was formed in 2011, the work was begun in 2012 and the first version of this play was performed in around 2014. Six years later, Chickenshed Theatre have posted their production on youtube.

It is an absolutely stunning piece of theatre. The subject matter is very sensitive, but the play feels very respectful and it makes several acknowledgements which I feel are really important, like the fact that things which might seem small are still abuse and can still have a terrible and long-lasting effect; emotional abuse can be just as bad as or worse than physical abuse – and most importantly of all that while it is possible and helpful to identify with others who have had similar experiences, every abuse victim and survivor has their own unique set of circumstances and their own feelings so nobody can assume they know exactly how someone else is feeling.

Of course, no single play can examine every single possibility. The play focuses entirely on women who are abused by their male partners and although that is the situation that tends to come to mind when a phrase such as ‘domestic abuse’ is used, it is possible for all genders to be victims and it’s also something that can happen between family members and housemates. (And, although it’s not strictly domestic abuse and therefore doesn’t fall in with the play’s theme that home should be the safest place, it can happen outside the home too.) But despite the focus on women and relationships, I think this story has the potential to give hope to anyone who is suffering from domestic abuse or its after-effects.

The fact the play exists at all shows that there are people who were willing to listen and to show patience, offer support and attempt to understand as best they possibly can. The writers have worked so hard to put emotional and physical feelings into words, and to do this in a way to which audiences can respond, shows much they care about the project. They’ve gone to the trouble of finding performers with the talent, commitment and courage to turn it into a really powerful and hard-hitting performance. They’ve made it clear that what is happening is not right. They’ve shown it is possible to break free of abuse, but they also acknowledge that it’s a very big step and not something you can do all at once just because you know, intellectually, that it’s wrong. They haven’t pushed aside the fact that it is possible to love your abuser, despite what they do to you. I find that last point particularly important as I have seen dramas where the people who are trying to help are invalidating the victims’ feelings and telling them they can’t possibly love someone who’d do that to them and their feelings can’t be real. I’ve always had reservations about the message that sends out - the ‘helpers’ clearly aren’t listening.

It’s also a very important play because some audience members might one day realise that someone they know is a victim of domestic abuse. While not even the very best play (and this is certainly one of the best of the 300+ I’ve watched in lockdown) can tell you what to do to help every individual, I think any insight and understanding that can be gained can only be a positive (as long as you don’t assume that because you’ve seen one play about it, you now know everything. You don’t. I definitely don’t. Nobody does).

The play focuses on a group of abuse survivors and victims. They share their stories, sometimes with each other and sometimes in their heads. They offer each other support, worry about each other, and although they are human and sometimes make mistakes, they do their best to accept one another as they are. The script feels raw and real and the performances are absolutely outstanding. Although the play has focused on women in relationships, the cast includes people of different ages and ethnicities and with different interests, which helps to show it really can happen to anyone. I have assumed the performers are actors, but I know some of the domestic abuse survivors who took part in the initial workshops have been involved in the performances so it’s possible the actors in this performance are domestic abuse survivors. Whether they’re actors, survivors or both, they all gave excellent and very brave performances. I think whether you’re trying to imagine something you’ve never experienced or looking back to terrible experience you’ve had in the past, it must be an extremely difficult play to perform in and whatever their situation, the work they’ve done on this play is exceptional.

The Chickenshed Theatre Company have put on a production about a deeply distressing subject with sincerity, honesty and empathy. If it even helps one person (and I honestly doubt it’s only one), they’ve done something really special and important.