Theatre Peckham are staging a production, which opens this Saturday, April 29, and closes next Thursday, May 4, telling untold breast cancer stories in a bid to open the debate and make a positive change within the black community.
Award winning directors Simon Frederick and Suzann McLean have come together to stage Unseen Unheard: The untold breast cancer stories of Black Women in the UK, written by trailblazing playwright, Naomi Denny.
Unseen Unheard is based on the lived breast cancer experiences of women from Black Women Rising. Set in real time on a normal evening, six women gather to unravel their shared experiences of the abnormality that Black women experience through their diagnosis.
As one would expect, the women invite us into their world with an open and candid insight that combines honesty and humour. There is a real-world objective to staging this play. None more important than changing habits that will lead to saving lives.
The Black Women Rising cancer support project was set up in 2019 by award-winning community champion Leanne Pero from Peckham after she struggled with the aftermath of her own battle with breast cancer at just 30-years-old.
In 2016 she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and has previously told the News of the loneliness she felt during her chemotherapy and treatment.
In 2019 a series of stunning portraits of women from Southwark who have had mastectomies was displayed in Peckham – including a portrait of Leanne.
And later that year as one of three finalists of Lorraine Kelly’s Inspirational Women of the Year awards, Leanne attended a star-studded ceremony at the Royal Lancaster Hotel.
“What an amazing experience I’ve had,” she told the News at the time. “So many young people and women from my community have been in touch to say how inspired they are and have been from watching my journey – women who have said they are now checking their breasts for the first time.”
In her quest to find the right services to aid her, Leanne says she soon realised that the NHS lacked cancer support packages for BAME cancer patients. Further investigation into the visibility of BAME cancer patients in the UK started to unravel that in most instances, the cancer stories of her community were being excluded from the UK’s mainstream media outlets, magazines, daily tabloids and more damagingly she says, from reputable annual cancer campaigns by brands and charities failing miserably at diversifying their campaigns.
On her website Leanne writes: “This further fuelled the false narrative amongst the BAME Community that cancer is not a ‘black disease’.
“As well as these generic injustices, the unhelpful myths and taboos surrounding cancer within the BAME community had ultimately stopped people from speaking out about their ordeals, leading to a lack of awareness and education within BAME households around cancer, its signs and symptoms.
“This ultimately led to the devastating outcomes of late-stage diagnoses and higher mortality rates in some cancers than their white counterparts.”
The play at Theatre Peckham is commissioned and funded by Gilead Sciences Ltd and women with experiences of breast cancer attending will be invited to share their experiences around the topics discussed in the play, so that a report showcasing real voices can be presented to key change-makers.
Leanne Pero said: “For long enough the voices of Black Women going through Breast cancer have been silenced and unheard and this theatre piece will be another way to connect with our communities, bring home the importance of cancer awareness and educate health care professionals of our individual needs.
“This collaboration has seen our members guide the writing, direction and execution of the piece alongside a stellar creative team – our hope is that this play will give rise to much needed discussion and influence positive change and outcomes of Black women going through a Breast cancer diagnosis.”
Suzann McClean, who is co-director of the play and runs Theatre Peckham added: “As artistic director of Theatre Peckham it’s important to me that we use our platform to shed light on the experiences of underrepresented communities.
“This play is a tribute to the strength and courage of black women who have had a breast cancer diagnosis, an opportunity to amplify voices that have been historically silenced, and to spark conversations that can lead to meaningful change.”
With the aim to reach and provide access to people across all communities, the producers have chosen to make all tickets free of charge with a suggested donation of £7.50 which will be donated to Black Women Rising. Should someone wish to donate more than £7.50 the remaining amount will be split between both charities – Black Women Rising and Theatre Peckham.
Theatre Peckham, 221 Havil Street, SE5 7SB.
Times: Thursday 27th – Saturday 29th April; Tuesday 2nd – Thursday 4th May 2023. All performances start at 7.30pm.
Admission: FREE, with a suggested donation of £7.50 to Black Women Rising (minus processing fees of 5.5%).
Booking: http://www.theatrepeckham.co.uk
https://southwarknews.co.uk/news/culture/peckhams-leanne-pero-reaches-finals-of-inspirational-woman-of-the-year-award/
