The Walk draws attention to sex trafficking

Posted Jan 26, 2012 By Kristy Wallace

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EMC Entertainment - When Natalie Fraser-Purdy first read the script for The Walk, a production about global sex trafficking, it brought out strong emotions in her.

"I was mad. That was my first impulse," said Fraser-Purdy, who's the show's director. "Within the first five minutes I was crying, and feeling sick to my stomach. I could barely look at the material."

The director is bringing the story to audiences on Feb. 3 to 5 and Feb. 10 to 12 at the Natalie Stern Studio Theatre in Westboro.

The production was first shown at the Ottawa Fringe Festival last summer, and will be produced by Moon Dog Theatre in association with PACT-Ottawa (Persons Against the Crime of Trafficking in humans).

The show features a quirky nun, a writer and an out-of-work film director who are working to write a play about trafficked women.

From their meetings, stories about trafficked women and girls emerge and a character name Celestine, a Nigerian who was trafficked in Italy for eight years, tells her own story throughout the play and how she's now trying to build a life in Canada with her son.

Fraser-Purdy said it's important for people in Ottawa to look around, and see what the situation is like in their communities.

"There are women here in Ottawa being trafficked," she said. "Anywhere you look, you can find trafficking. It's not unique to third world countries - it's everywhere."

She said it was important for her to bring the story to audiences in Westboro since it was such a success at the Ottawa Fringe Festival and was honoured with a performance at the Women's World 2011 Conference.

Fraser-Purdy wanted to stress that the play is not about "man-hating," but about what kinds of circumstances drag each participant into the world of human trafficking.

"All of the characters are dark and vulnerable, and I wanted to make sure it was expressed in a way that this is somebody's son," she said. "Something made this guy become this way, just as something made this girl end up here. It's not just about, look at what men are doing, but what are we doing as a culture, as a society?"

As a director and artist, Fraser-Purdy said it's important for her to evoke emotion in her audience, and to have actors and stage staff who are also passionate in what they do.

"It's the vulnerability of the actor that gives the gift of the story, and I'm very lucky to have a trusting and talented cast," she said. "Even the stage manager has to be the right personality type."

Fraser-Purdy also said the interactive play will also feature African art and music as soon as audience members walk into the theatre.

She has high hopes for the show, and wants it to draw more attention to the issue.

"If you want to talk about something or get support, offer education in an entertaining way rather than just a piece of paper," Fraser-Purdy said. "It's a far better way of generating support."

All performances of the show are at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance and $22 at the door. They can be purchased at Collected Works Bookstore ay 1242 Wellington St. West and at Mother Tongue Books at 1067 Bank St. For more information, visit the website www.moondogtheatre.com or email moondogtheatre@rogers.com.

kristy.wallace@metroland.com




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