Two plays about sexual abuse among men highlight the much sensitive and hushed-up subject
Martin Moran is touring India with his popular one-man shows on sexual abuse. The actor-director will premiere his plays in India during Literature Live Fest in Mumbai next week. Between the age of 12 and 15, Moran had a sexual relationship with an older man, a counsellor he met at a Catholic boys camp. Now 42 and an established New York actor, he has transformed his story into a riveting, often funny and always surprising journey throughout the complexities of Catholicism, desire and human trespass. Poorna Jagannathan, who also produced Nirbhaya earlier this year, hopes the plays will spark a debate on a much needed conversation - that of the epidemic of sexual violence against boys.
Time to wake up
"Today one in two boys is sexually abused in India. That means half of all boys in India are exposed to an unwanted sexual interaction. It's mind-boggling. But the culture of extreme shame surrounding male sexual abuse prevents survivors from seeking help or healing. Most times, violence is internalised and cycles of abuse just continue. At a time we are trying to combat sexual violence against women, we remain relatively blind to sexual violence against boys and men. I'm hoping these plays can pry open this difficult yet vital conversation," says Poorna who is producing the shows.
Play it loud
The Tricky Part and All The rage are testimonial in nature- drawn from Moran's real life experiences. Moran says he has always been drawn to India but when he heard the sexual violence statistics, he felt an urgency to bring his plays here. "I hope my plays can offer a real chance for communion and discussion of difficult topics. Men are particularly secretive about matters of sexual abuse. But secrecy and reticence are very much a part of what it means to be masculine. To be male is to be stoic," he says. The Tricky Part tells the true story of sexuality, spirituality and the mystery of human experience. In All The Rage, on the other hand, Moran decides to go find rage and in doing so he goes where most theater doesn't venture - a journey deep into the self.
He also offered a glimpse of his journey from presenting his story for the very first time till now, "When I first began telling my story it was very difficult. I felt so vulnerable, ashamed, even embarrassed. But telling, besides giving light and space, gives strength. And over time it becomes simply one part of the great tapestry of who you are in the world," he concludes.
(The Tricky Part and All The Rage will be performed at NCPA on October 30 and 31)
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