I’m awaiting the day revolution arrives and so is half of the population of this planet. The recent revelations regarding Harvey Weinstein shed a light on the massive problem of sexual harassment and abuse that women endure on a day to day basis. ROLLER, a collaboration between Rachel Mars and Nat Tarrabwho are also winners of the Oxford Samuel Beckett Theatre Trust award, explores female rage and strives for a revolution whilst putting intersectional feminism centre stage.Two goddess like figures are rolled onto the stage. Placed on top of two high ladders, these female figures are ready for a revolution. They proclaim that enough is enough and now is the time for change. Matriarchal society is what they are after. There is an extreme weight of passion and truth in their words and I have to stop myself from cheering their words and screaming. Their speech covers many subjects and really highlights the injustice and the oppression that women have to live through.
The creators of the show use the all-female world of roller derby to explore the possibility of a society in which women are in charge of the world. More and more female performers enter the stage and work together to build a roller rink. There is a unity in their labour and a strive for togetherness. Whilst the two main figures observe their work they also begin to move away from one another in terms of their objectives. Soon they realise that their rage will not serve their purpose.
ROLLER is an experimental and striking piece of art that doesn’t answer any question but instead creates many. If the revolution comes how are we going to utilise our energy? Are we going to work together or against each other? How are we going to use our anger for the benefit all our futures? These are the questions that the creators of ROLLER leave us with as we leave the auditorium; wondering if change is around the corner.
The normalisation and acceptance of unacceptable events in conflict situations, is the bitingly severe and occasionally funny premise of “Goats” by Syrian playwright Liwaa Yazji, currently playing at The Royal Court Theatre.