About the project
Domestic Violence Project
Dramatic Reading of A Streetcar Named Desire, by Tennessee Williams
Directed by Bryan Doerries
The Domestic Violence Project is a public health project that presents scenes from Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire as a catalyst for guided discussions about the impact of domestic violence on individuals, couples, children, caregivers, and communities. This unique participatory event is designed to generate open discussion among audiences to raise awareness, foster compassion, and inspire action with regard to the consequences of domestic violence as experienced by individuals, couples, children, and communities. This project premiered in Portland, Maine in 2013 through a collaboration with the Maine Humanities Council, and has since been presented on university campuses and military installations throughout the country. Under our current Public Artist in Residence initiative, the project has been presented in public high schools, public housing developments, libraries, and community centers in partnership with the Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence.
I was struck by the moment when Stella came back to Stanley, and they held each other. It’s so complicated. It’s never black and white.
About the play
-
A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams
The Domestic Violence Project presents scenes 3 and 4 from Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire, depicting the infamous poker night and its aftermath in Williams’ iconic American play: Stanley and the boys are up late playing poker in small apartment where he lives with his wife, Stella. When Stella and her sister Blanche arrive home, a violent altercation ensues, and when the drunken Stanley becomes violent, his friends are forced to pin him down while Stella retreats to a neighbor’s home. Stanley’s breaks down and begs Stella to come back to him, which she does. The next day Blanche confronts Stella over Stanley’s behavior and, much to her surprise, learns that Stella does not wish to leave Stanley.
Highlights
A Streetcar Named Desire: Let’s Talk About Domestic Violence
Bangor Maine / 2013
The Domestic Violence Project was featured on bangordailynews.com
Explore Projects
-
Domestic ViolenceMedeaMedea timelessly depicts how scorned passion can lead to revenge and, sometimes, unthinkable violence. This project, which premiered at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in June 2016, delves into under-discussed mental health issues that affect women and their families.
-
Pandemic & Climate CrisisPoetry for the PandemicUsing poetry as a catalyst for an Intergenerational performance and discussion during the Covid-19 pandemic.
-
Gun ViolenceHerculesDrawing from an ancient Greek tragedy about a vicious act of violence committed by an angry man with an invincible weapon, this project aims to generate powerful dialogue between concerned citizens, members of the law enforcement community, victims and perpetrators of gun violence, and the general public.