The activities set up in this series were geared to let participants reclaim their voice, in writing and in person, and in French, for those who don't speak it or only speak it a little.
Other than expressing a point of view and self-assertion, it is about daring to develop listening skills, confidence (in oneself and in others) and the imaginations of everyone in the group.
These workshops are led by Lara Persain, arts-educator, and Lisette Lombé, a slammer behind the L-Slam collective. The process is based on an exchange and comprehension around the route, situation and aspiration of each of the participations, a reflection on the prejudices suffered or conveyed – particularly those related to gender – as well as identifying and analysing discriminatory mechanisms. From writing to theatrical coaching, the facilitators accompanied a group of women who regularly visited the Maison des Femmes d'Ici et d'Ailleurs to help them give body, inspiration and resonance to their texts.
Together, the participants wrote and staged a subject showing the process of emancipation that they experienced in this workshop, from silence toward freedom of speech: “Chut!” (Quiet!). The show evokes social taboos, things we can’t speak freely of, and even less when we’re a woman: domestic violence, love and sexuality and politics, among other things.
