V Day Tenderness: Laugh at how ridiculous reality can be

Directed by Jith Peiris and Hans Billimoria, ‘V Day 2016: Tenderness’, is based on interviews and discussions with people from around Sri Lanka on gender based and intimate partner violence. This year’s collection of performance pieces are stories that people hardly discuss, because sometimes it’s just too difficult to tell anyone. Who would believe them? But if we listen, people always find a way to tell those stories. To feel the catharsis of the narrative, where in the retelling of the story you purge your demons. 

This year performers include Indu who plays the role of a Three Wheel Driver who parks outside night clubs and watches the world go by; Michelle, who plays a young woman who was accosted by three men; Danu, Dominic and Anuruddha discuss how some fathers view incest; and Dino and Dharini debate on the perceived ambiguities of ‘consensual rape’. There is also interpretive dance based on research related to the abuse of trans women in Sri Lanka. Gehan Blok on the loopholes of forgiveness and Sashini’s 50 Shades Gone Wrong monologue make up the night. 

“As always V Day, in the tradition of writings to end violence against women and girls, seeks to provoke a discussion amongst those of us who may feel immune to what are every day realities for some,” explains Director Hans Billimoria. “They may be our reality too but we either chose to ignore it, or prefer to pretend.” 

V Day 2016: Tenderness, 1 April, 7 p.m. at the Barefoot Café. Tickets: Rs. 1,000 (available at Barefoot Café). For special discounted student tickets (Rs. 500) contact [email protected] or message Grassrooted on Facebook. The show is for adults only. 

Media partners – TNL, Lite 87, Life Online, Daily Mirror and The Sunday Times and Production Partner – Arinma Holdings.