Women's Aid Fundraiser

Women's Aid Leicestershire was established in 1974 to support the first refuge in Leicester for women and children fleeing domestic violence. WAL relies heavily on donations and commercial support especially as their meagre council funding is under threat. To this end regular fund raisers are organised and The Western, and in particular Upstairs at The Western, hosted an evening of entertainment on Friday 29th November.
The evening started off with The Red Leicester Choir not, as may be assumed, anything to do with our local cheese, but a 'socialist choir' singing in unaccompanied four-part harmony with a repertoire of 'historical and contemporary songs expressive of social and political protest'. The choir occupied a corner of the downstairs bar and soon captured the attention of the assembled drinkers who applauded each song.
Upstairs in the theatre after the choir had warmed the audience up, we were treated to an extraordinary hour of clowning interspersed with harrowing tales of domestic abuse. Elaine Panting's self penned burlesque tale of the scary realities behind suburban respectability in turn tickles your ribs before breaking your heart. The clown, having more to do with Stephen King's IT than Charlie Cairoli circus fool, turns out to be just as manipulative and controlling as any of the obvious abusers.
This informative and entertaining piece of theatre should be required viewing for every teenager, especially the girls.
If you need to contact someone about domestic abuse in Leicestershire then visit www.wa-leicester.org.uk or call 0116 283 2225. There is also a Leicestershire County Domestic Violence Helpline 0300 303 1844

First published in Western Gazette 
© Paul Towers 29/11/2014