Natasha - A triptych - studies in experimental opera
Asking4It Productions http://asking4itproductions.co.uk are keen to produce this urgent work for public audiences because issues of exploitation are widespread around the world.
We are based in Wales, UK but of course, as you will all understand this isn't just a Welsh issue. Natasha has the potential to be translated and performed internationally.
Natasha is challenging and innovative on a number of creative levels but also educational in the raising of debate and will hopefully further understanding of some of the wider circumstances.
We understand the victims of sex work and human trafficking are frequently marginalised and dis-infranchised. Conflict, war, displacement, migration, extreme economic conditions and the experience of physical and sexual abuse as children usually underpin exploitation. We believe people do do choose sex work. People do not choose exploitation.
Natasha the libretto was written by Jane fox in 2012 and is inspired by the courageous Mexican journalist Lydia Cacho and her book Slavery Inc; The Untold Story of International Sex Trafficking.
Asking4It Productions are currently developing three sections of Natasha in Wales and London, Uk all of which tackle differing issues of abuse and exploitation. Each section is self-contained and can be produced independently.
Why opera? We believe opera is a perfect medium for embodying, expressing and transcending powerful and distressing material. Hopefully, our intimate and experimental productions will attract new and young audiences to the art-form and ignite a consideration of the issues.
Shelter is a sensory exploration of a form of Stockholm Syndrome whereby young women are married to old men and imprisoned for extended periods of time. Shelter is an immersive and powerful section evoking feelings of entrapment, fractured memories, loss of innocence, the hope of freedom and complex relationship dynamics. The innovative musical score is part-graphic and while it is largely structured it also contains spaces for improvisation on the part of the vocal performers.
The Filmmaker and The Organ Trader looks at the snuff pornography film industry and its links to the illegal organ trade. This dark section examines the extreme poverty of many victims and the established and lucrative trade in human bodies around the world. We are setting the operatic voice against an industrial electronic score.
Peacekeeping is a collection of arias from the differing perspectives of a politician, a soldier, a military priest and a Muslim woman. Peacekeeping is an examination of misogyny set in a non-geogrpahical specific conflict zone where peacekeeping troops are stationed. Conflict zones across the globe are prime locations for sex crimes, state provided brothels for R&R and human trafficking.
We have plans for new and experimental musical scores for Natasha and donations from crowd funding are needed for all aspects of the production through to public performances and paying all the talented vocal performers, musicians and the creative team.
Thank you for your time and consideration and we hope we have raised your interest and you feel able to support our project Natasha - A triptych - studies in experimental opera at this time.