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Victim or Villian?

Victim or Villian?

In a remote beach house an anxious woman waits. Her husband arrives accompanied by a mysterious stranger. The scene is set for Newmarket Stage Company’s upcoming production of Ariel Dorfman’s Death and the Maiden, a taut psychological thriller that will make you question your beliefs, your attitudes and your responses. Who is the real villain? Who is your own worst enemy?

The woman, Paulina Salas, is a former political prisoner who was tortured and raped by her captors, led by a sadistic doctor whose face she never saw. The stranger is Doctor Roberto Miranda, who has given Paulina’s husband Gerardo Escobar a lift home. As the evening unfolds Paulina becomes convinced that Miranda is the sadistic doctor who raped her. She takes him captive intent on extracting a confession.

The play, directed by John Callen, will take audiences on a journey through the human psyche exploring themes such as fear, power, loyalty, betrayal, revenge, reconciliation and justice. Veteran actor George Henare is taking on the role of Doctor Roberto Miranda, and says he’s excited about the prospect of playing the baddie for a change. But is he really the manipulative and sadistic villain or merely the unwitting victim of a tormented woman with a lust for revenge?

Paulina will be played by Brazilian-born, New Zealand-based Tatiana Hotere. She feels she has a special connection with the character of Paulina given her South American roots. As a child growing up in Brazil she heard stories of relatives who had sheltered victims fleeing the oppressive dictatorships in neighbouring Chile and Argentina. As research for the role she spoke to an aunt who told her that some of those people the family sheltered are still living in fear.

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Completing the trio is actor Edwin Wright who plays Paulina’s husband Gerardo Escobar. Gerardo is a lawyer who has just been appointed to the commission investigating the deaths of dissidents under the previous oppressive regime. He will have the unenviable task of being the voice of reason amidst the madness with his loyalties torn between the woman he loves and the reconciliation of his country.

Newmarket Stage Company (NSC) is presenting Death and the Maiden at the Factory Theatre in Newmarket in association with Amnesty International New Zealand and supported by the Newmarket Business Association. 2015 represents the 50th anniversary of Amnesty International’s presence in New Zealand. Director John Callen is a long-time supporter of the organisation and feels it is particularly fitting that the actual 50th anniversary falls on 28 May, the opening night for this thought-provoking play.

Argentine-Chilean playwright Ariel Dorfman wrote Death and the Maiden almost 25 years ago and yet the issues raised in the play remain relevant in our world today. Sadly, as one cruel and tyrannical regime falls it is replaced by another on the rise. For decades Amnesty International has been exposing governments who use or condone torture and supporting torture survivors in their

fight for justice. They rallied international pressure that led to the UN Convention against Torture 30 years ago and today laws against torture are in place almost everywhere. However, it appears that laws are not enough - while the laws exist, in many countries they are not adhered to. Over the past five years Amnesty International has reported on torture in 141 countries, which equates to three-quarters of the world.

Amnesty International’s Stop Torture campaign is very much focused on ending the use of torture by States - to extract information and confessions, to terrorise and to humiliate. Mo Farrell, Public Campaigns Manager for Amnesty International New Zealand says: “In NZ we have mainly been focused on Mexico, Nigeria and more specifically the Philippines. Our general call is for an end to torture, for those responsible to be held accountable and for justice for torture victims, survivors and their families.”

Death and the Maiden will be performed at The Factory Theatre in Newmarket from 28 May to 13 June. There will be post-performance Q&A sessions with Director John Callen and representatives from Amnesty International New Zealand after the matinee performances on Sunday 31 May and Sunday 7 June.

Tickets are available from iTicket at www.iticket.co.nz .

ENDS

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