COMMUNITY PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
W
e are proud to count among our community partners SOAR — Sisters Overcoming Abusive Relationships. This grassroots task force of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence was established in 1989 and is made up of more than 100 domestic violence survivors who are dedicated to using their voices and experiences to end domestic violence. They address the root causes of domestic violence and the systemic and societal issues that affect victims of domestic violence and their children. Their work includes legislative advocacy, raising public awareness, and working with individual members to develop their leadership skills. Trinity Rep first started working with SOAR in 2012 when they approached us about creating a play written and performed by their members. Trinity Rep education staff led 16 survivors using prompts and theater activities to write a play. Following a process of script development and rehearsal, their play was performed in the Dowling Theater. The following year, Director of Education Jordan Butterfield restaged the play with many of the original writers/survivors, plus a few new members. The play was also adapted into a four-person version that traveled to schools and colleges. Trinity Rep and SOAR continued to remount the play each October for Domestic Violence Awareness month through 2016. The stories shared in the play and the process of developing and staging it inspired the latest phase of our partnership. We are starting the process to create a multi-media tool, sharing the stories of survivors’ experiences to educate audiences. SOAR members also provided important perspective and consultation on A Lie of the Mind (2014) and Like Sheep to Water, or Fuente Ovejuna (2017), two productions that included elements of domestic violence, violence against women, and rape. The women of SOAR also brought great joy to our 2017 production of A
SOAR Christmas Carol which featured a different community group onstage as part of each performance. SOAR members and their children made up one of the largest groups of community performers that year! We applaud SOAR’s tremendous effort and results, and look forward to working with their members to continue telling these important stories so that there are fewer stories to tell in the future. More information about SOAR can be found at www.soarinri.org. PICTURED ABOVE:
A 2012-13 Season performance by SOAR at the University of
Rhode Island
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THE TRINITY SQUARE • WINTER 2021
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