Striking testimonies from women helped and volunteers for International Women’s Rights Day in Saint André de Sangonis
In Saint André de Sangonis, Friday March 8, on the occasion of Women’s Day and their rights, a moving show highlighted the strength, courage and resilience of the women welcomed and volunteers. “The Whisper of Women” retraces their often moving journeys.
7 female volunteers took on the challenge of taking to the stage to give voice to the stories of these women who are generally given little voice. A difficult, courageous but successful exercise, well presented by the Cie Eau Gazeuse Show.
An emotional journey
The staging, designed by Agnès of Cie Eau Gazeuse, is refined with sound effects and music, to most simply recreate the lives of these women. The show connects testimonies and tells the journey of women who are often little listened to. These women are of all ages and from all origins (France and Maghreb most often).
The show sometimes tackles light subjects with humor such as the transition to femininity, romantic encounters, the relationship with motherhood, work and marriage. It also evokes more sensitive, even heavy issues such as rape, exile, the weight of the family unit, the ineffectiveness of institutions, divorce, male violence, the mental burden of the couple and sexuality. There is audacity in this show with the inclusion of a male representation, played by Christophe, actor from Cie Eau Gazeuse.
The “Women’s Murmur” project is a unique popular education project in Saint André de Sangonis built with volunteers and people welcomed. Texts written by Katia B., a supported person, are also read by Christophe during the show.
It is a show which aims above all to be liberating in its primary intention but also shares all its hopes for the evolution of Men.
“The Murmur of Women” plunged the spectators into an emotional journey which completely won them over, given the numerous applause at the end of the performance.
It was a wonderful evening of meeting donors, people receiving assistance, volunteers and residents of the area who came in large numbers during this special evening for March 8.
Other performances of this show “Le murmure des femmes” are planned in the Hérault region (story to follow!).
Photo credit: Patricia Bellet
The genesis of the project
It has now been a few months since the project took shape in the mind of Agnès, a volunteer on the Saint André de Sangonis committee:
“As an actress and director, I wanted to use my skills for this day that is so special for many women. »
This show was built from testimonies from women welcomed and volunteers. “The individual interviews were held discreetly in October during the food distributions. About an hour of interview where the women spoke about their relationship with men, their childhood, what it means to be a woman in 2024.”
From these interviews the texts were born and the time for the staging began. Seven female volunteers, new to theater, embarked on this adventure to give voice to these experiences of female life.
From January, Annie, Catherine, Élisabeth, Léa, Marie-Christine, Marie-Jo and Rose attended the workshops to build the show which they performed on March 8 on the stages of the Saint André village hall in Sangonis.
A human and artistic adventure
Christophe, Agnès, Marie-Christine, Marie-Jo, Cathy, Élisabeth, Léa, Annie and Rose give us their experience of this show.
- Christophe – Cie Eau Gazeuse Shows “I had a lot of fun accompanying Annie, Cathy, Chris, Élisabeth, Léa, Marie-Jo and Rose on stage. We shared beautiful moments, sometimes intense, sometimes laughing. It was a great human adventure”.
- Agnès – Cie Eau Gazeuse Shows and volunteer « This collective adventure gives full meaning to a passion, that of building shows accessible to as many people as possible. Knowing their appetite for life and commitment to serving others, I was not surprised by what the actresses were capable of doing. And the public was there to give us an exceptional evening dedicated to all the women we hear so little about.”
- Marie-Christine – general secretary and participating volunteer “When Agnès asked for volunteers to participate in this somewhat atypical show, I wanted to try the experience, I always dreamed of participating in a theatrical show, but my shyness won out over the dream… But this time I was supported by the 7 volunteers and Agnès, the subject covered is concrete and close to my heart. Frankly, at each rehearsal I feel satisfaction and pride in playing and putting myself in the shoes of all these women and their battles”.
- Marie-Jo – participating volunteer “I wanted to participate even though I didn’t feel capable and I am very happy and proud to have been able to participate in this great adventure. I felt like I was part of a family”.
- Cathy – participating volunteer “I took part in this adventure proposed by Agnès because I really like the idea of “liberating” women’s voices. On a personal level, having problems with dizziness, it was a real challenge that I am happy to have been able to achieve.”
- Élisabeth and Léa – participating volunteers “Agnès was able to convince us and we all embarked on this adventure as volunteers, crossing our fingers to report these women’s whispers as accurately as possible. These were moments of intense emotion. Sharing, laughter, tears, conviviality around our shared meals and our favorite dessert, of which we will keep the secret. We don’t forget our only favorite actor Christophe and especially Agnès who had patience with this little troupe. An even more memorable memory because we had the chance to share this experience between mother and daughter. Women’s whispers are also good therapy.”
- Annie – participating volunteer “This “Feminine Whisper” generously proposed by Agnès spread little by little in complicity between us during this delicate and liberating adventure. Thank you again for this great experience”.
- Rose – participating volunteer “It was an incredible experience. I am delighted to have experienced all these moments with these women and Christophe and to have been able to carry the words of the women welcomed to a destiny which commands respect.”
Written by Agnes Petitgille
2024-04-05 08:19:14
#Theater #murmur #women #HERAULT #Federation
