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ANOTHER CHANCE TO SEE AWARD WINNING ZONES OF AVOIDANCE
| Author: Tongues&Grooves | Published: 15th October 2014 18:20 |
People in recovery from drug and alcohol misuse took part in an award winning production, written and performed by Southsea poet, Maggie Sawkins. Their powerful testimonials impressed the judges of the Ted Hughes Award for New Work in Poetry.
Following the announcement of the top award for ZONES OF AVOIDANCE at London's Savile Club, Denise Riley, speaking on behalf of the judges, said:
'This is an ambitious multimedia presentation using film, voices and sound, which works exceptionally well. It is a challenging, painfully open account of addiction, yet it's an account which also offers graceful good humour. Beautifully written and uncompromising, it's a modern story we felt the writer was compelled to tell; it acts as a vivid witness of harsh experiences which aren't often described in poetry, and Maggie Sawkins' illuminating descriptions will prove helpful for others to hear.'
The Zones of Avoidance project, which was made possible by a Grants for the Arts Award, enabled Maggie to run workshops with people in recovery from addiction in Portsmouth. Their moving accounts, recorded at the workshops, are an integral part of the production which was directed by Mark C Hewitt.
Maggie said, 'My daughter was addicted to heroin for 20 years and always lived nearby, so it's been difficult not to get caught up in the chaos. If you're affected by someone in addiction there seems to be only two options: one, the most natural, is to jump in and rescue; the other is to cut yourself off, to demonise the person you love.'
After joining a support group offering opportunities to work alongside the PUSH Recovery Community, she realised the arena of addiction provides a rich source of material for a writer. She became fascinated, in particular, with the roles played by those trapped within the drama triangle: the persecutor, victim and rescuer.
Also included in the production are two monologues describing difficult encounters between mother and daughter, and two heart-breaking letters to Maggie's grandchild, given up for adoption at birth. Seven related poems are shown as short films.
There's another chance to see ZONES OF AVOIDANCE at The David Russell Theatre, Portsmouth Grammar School at 7.30pm on Thursday 30 October. The production is being hosted as part of Hampshire's Festival of the Mind and in partnership with Portsmouth's Bookfest. Tickets are available from Box Office: 02392 814875
02392 814875.
For further information: www.zonesofavoidance.wordpress.com | www.hantsfestivalofthemind.org
PUSH Recovery Community get together in a forum environment to discuss what's been going on in substance misuse around the Portsmouth area. PUSH members feed back on events attended during the previous week and then each event is opened up for discussion. The forum takes place at PUSHing for Change, Third Floor, Central Library, Guildhall Square, Portsmouth every Tuesday from 2 - 4pm. Everyone is welcome to attend.
For further information: www.pushrecoverycommunity.org
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