Voila! Festival 2024 | Body In Progress Friday 8th November, 7pm - 8pm Saturday 9th November, 7pm - 8pm Book Now "I stood there, unprotected, in front of those faceless uniforms." A disturbed young woman travels through London, walking through the day and night, riding the tube to unfamiliar places, searching for something. What? As she searches, terrible memories flash into view of her brutal time in prison in her native Belarus where she was caught-up in the protests against the rigged elections in 2020. Will she be forever trapped in these dark visions, or can her search heal her scarred psyche? Body in Progress is a compelling docudrama created and performed by Belarusian women that blends physical and verbal theatre to explore one woman's journey through pain to find identity, belonging and justice. It digs into broader themes of patriarchy, violence and resilience of women, at both a state and personal level, to help amplify underrepresented voices and spark vital conversations on social justice and activism. Body in Progress draws on the power of empathy, storytelling and vulnerability to find ways to transform women's experience. "I want to hear my voice I want my body back…" Credits Director: #9 Sound designer: Lex Kosanke Cast: Hanna Komar, Sophie Vallee About this performance Age guidance: This performance is recommended for ages 16+ Content warning: This production is emotionally intense, it features periods of darkness, includes depictions of violence and trauma, and touches on sensitive cultural and political context. Interval: This performance does not have an interval. Post show discussion: This performance has a post show discussion after the performance on November 9th. Accessibility See our Accessibility Guide for information about access in our venue. Find out more about Hanna Komar and Sophie Vallee Hanna Komar is a Belarusian writer and activist. She’s published five poetry collections, including the most recent Ribwort, and a non-fiction book about the experience of incarceration for peaceful protest in Belarus. Body in Progress marks her debut as a playwright and an actress. Sophie Vallee, an RCSSD graduate, excels in film and theatre. She directed "This is Me," nominated for an All-Party Parliamentary Group of Arts & Wellbeing award, performed in Slava Polunin’s exhibition, "Blood Wedding" at Mumford Theatre, and "I Will Call Myself Gantenbein." Currently, she's performing in "1984" at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Hanna Komar: https://www.hannakomar.com/en Sophie Vallee: https://app.spotlight.com/7330-6727-9862 Facebook: /Body-in-Progress-Play Instagram: @body_in_progress_play Voila! Festival 2024 Voila! Europe is a multilingual theatre festival produced by The Cockpit. Our curated programme of cross-cultural, cross-disciplinary performance opens a trusted portal to new European theatre for independent artists and adventurous audiences. The festival is live on stage in London and live online everywhere, gathering together a welcoming community of the culturally curious Find out more about the Voila! programme here. Book Manage Cookie Preferences