We Are Here: Theater of Witness with Survivors of Torture

Survivors from five countries tell their own stories and perform scenes about their escape to the US and how they rebuild their lives…two nights only. I served as playwright/dramaturg for this project directed by Hector Aristizabal and Alessia Cartoni with the support of LA’s Department of Cultural Affairs and in cooperation with the Program for Torture Victims, the first organization in the US to offer free medical and psychological treatment to survivors.

Please come and meet and applaud these courageous people from Cameroon, El Salvador, Guatemala, Russia, and Uganda.

PTV has offices above Mercado La Paloma, 3655 S. Grand Avenue, LA 90007 and on Tuesday, February 26th at 7:30 pm, we will premiere the play in the community space. The next night, Wednesday, February 27th at 7:30 pm, survivors will take the stage in a more theatrical venue, Club Fais Do-Do, 5257 W. Adams, LA 90016.

Both performances are free to the public.

The drawing is by Mario Avila, survivor from Guatemala.

Tags: Alessia Cartoni, Club Fais Do-Do, Hector Aristizabal, ImaginAction, Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, Mario Avila, Mercado La Paloma, Program for Torture Victims, survivors, Theater of Witness, torture