In the literary world, there is a trend toward books of short stories which gel together to create a bigger picture than each tale. Think David Cook’s BATTLE SCARS or IMPROMPTU SCRIBE by Alex Morritt.

Domestic Violence- RHYMES WITH SILENCE has tapped into the zeitgeist and run with it. In this engrossing show, 13 new short plays written by 9 Australian writers and starring 26 actors working with 12 directors cohere for a well realized night at the theatre where the sum is considerably greater than the parts.

Each of the works reflects on mothers at the heart of violent acts perpetrated against women. The big picture is how we allow one woman a week to be killed by their current or former partner. (According to the Australian National Research Organization for Women’s Safety)

The first play, “Divine Devotion” brings the themes to the immediate foreground as 3 women of varied cultural heritage mentor each other through what has happened to them. Why didn’t you just leave? It’s not his fault. Pretty young victim equals news fodder. Internal and external damage and scarring. I try to please him! Children bind you to him in ways you don’t understand. And the worst … staying silent.

All this has been said before, of course but what Improvising Change, who facilitated this project, has created is a forum for woman and men to use their skills to make the theme hit home.

Each piece is the work of a skilled dramatist and I think what scares me a bit is that there is no repetition in the pieces. DV has so many impacts and repercussions. “I Just Want My Little Family” is one of the best monologues I have encountered in years. With no swearing except for reported speech, the text clearly delineates place, class, social status, education and ethnicity in a completely indefinable way. It is Theatre Verite with no writer acknowledged. Many of the 13 plays have their basis in true stories and events.

The male and female directors seem to have guided their cast gently. There might be some uneven elements to the acting but it is always engaging and truthful without being earnest or preachy. Katherine Richardson as the Russian Bride and James Belfrage as the slimy, rational perpetrator made “Regret” a slow dance to an inevitable conclusion.

In “When We Were Living Together” Rebecca Van Hek relates her first person story as we hear a voiceover of her partner’s harassing phone calls. There is audible gasp when Nick Cowley intrudes his physical menace into her space. His acting is just terrific in this scene in which is a pretty thankless task.

Men do not come off well here but then we hit “Whirlpools” by Alex Broun. Close your eyes and listen to the murderer speak and the argument could relate to any gender. The nebulous beliefs and swirls of logic are really well directed by Natasha McDonald to highlight the pervasive nature of DV.

In theatrical terms, the show has an overarching professionalism about it with well-practiced set changes, suitable lighting and clear thought in the music chosen and the well sourced sound effects. The sparsely used projection of images fit into the story without overwhelming the performances. It’s not just important work, it’s good theatre.

With the big picture so well brought to my attention, I am hoping that this show does not die after its 2 week season is finished. If their sponsors, DVNSW, Women’s legal service NSW, Actors Anonymous, Mamapalooza, and Relationship Australia, want the work to reach a wider audience I urge them to have it published. So many of the pieces would fit neatly into the Social Science and Ethics curriculum; Artistic Director, Joy Gila Roberts’ conceptualization of format and balance into English and the monologues into Drama and Theatre studies.

If a discussion of Domestic Violence brings up issues for you, 24/7 advice is available at 1800 737 732 or online at www.1800respect.org.au the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling service

RHYMES WITH SILENCE continues at 107 Projects, 107 Redfern Street, Redfern until May 24th.

For more about Rhymes With Silence, visit http://www.improvisingchange.com/rhymes-with-silence