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Today is the day Diane is to share her victim impact statement in court. But first she must make a hundred micro-decisions. How should she dress? How much make-up should she wear? Will this top make her look like she’s ‘asking for it’? If she wears lipstick will she seem less credible? Soon she’ll take centre stage. Like it or not the eyes of everyone will be on her.

As she takes the stand Diane begins to express herself through movement. Her courtroom performance is made literal as she finds the courage to occupy the space and tell her story.

Testimony is a short film that uses dance and theatrical signifiers to explore the necessity and cost of bringing personal trauma into the public realm. By re-imagining the courtroom as a performative space and the public gallery as an awaiting audience Testimony asks the question what is it like to speak out for the benefit of society but at a cost to yourself? Why might some victims be deemed more believable than others? What power and pain is found in the act of retelling?

If you, or someone you know, have been a victim of crime, the following organisations may be able to help:
/programmes/articles/2MfW34HqH7tTCtnmx7LVfzp/information-and-support-victims-of-crime

New Creatives is supported by Arts Council England and Â鶹ԼÅÄ Arts.

Written & Directed by Alice Johannessen
Starring Shannon Kate Platt
Produced by Rachel Lambert
Choreographed by Beth Pattison

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