FLOWERS AREN'T ENOUGH
A play written and performed by Naomi Ackerman
"In the depths of winter, there was in me an invincible summer." Albert Camus
ABOUT THE PLAY
“Flowers Aren't Enough” is a monologue that tells the story of Michal, a young woman from an upper-middle-class family who finds herself in an abusive relationship. Michal describes how her partner gradually narrows her world isolating her from her surroundings. We see her denial; her guilt and how social conditionings intensify her shame and despair. We witness Michal sinking into darkness and then watch how she takes charge of her life, and rediscovers herself. The monologue is woven from true stories and actual incidents graciously shared by women willing to talk about their all too common experiences.
About The Show
The show has been performed over 1000 times in worldwide. The audiences have been diverse, and multi national. Professionals who deal with domestic abuse and violence , health care workers women’s groups, police officers, government officials, Jewish, Muslim, Christian Hindu and other organizations, community centers , Theatre festivals, High schools ,United Nations development projects and Jails have all benefited from this powerful performance!
Duration of the play is 55 minutes.
* “Flowers Aren’t Enough” is a powerful complement to a seminar or conference, can be used as a fundraiser, and provides a foundation for discussion with teens and young adults. Workshops, designed and facilitated by Naomi, can follow any and all performances.
FLOWERS AREN'T ENOUGH
Flowers Aren't Enough (part 2/3) * Flowers Aren't Enough (part 3)
PRESS*”It’s gripping theatre, highly recommended.”(Pier leach- the west Australian)
*“The script and Ackerman’s performance were so powerful that the discussion continued in small groups after the show !”(Fay Cushman -Jerusalem post )
* “The authenticity is augmented by Naomi’s extremely convincing portrayal of the protagonist of the play – I strongly recommend you become acquainted with the work of this remarkable and impressive woman !” (Alice Shalvie - Professor Emirate of English literature Hebrew University of Jerusalem
* “Compelling and powerful , penetrating the layers of silence and denial that so frequently mask this critical issue !”(Nicole Richon Schole –program coordinator help for abused woman and their children, Gloucester MA. More...
PHOTO GALLERY
• Testimonials
• Technical Requirements
• Tour Schedule
HISTORY OF 'FLOWERS'
Commissioned by the Israeli Ministry of Welfare, Flowers Aren’t Enough has been featured in community centers, conferences, local theaters, woman's organizations, Synagogues, Churches, Rabbinical Associations, High-Schools Universities and others worldwide. Show was written in Hebrew and translated into English, Arabic, Tamil and Spanish
• Performed over 1000 times in seven (7) countries to date, originating in Jerusalem, Israel
• Collaborated with and endorsed by the advisor on the “Status of Women” to the office of the Prime Minister of Israel and performed throughout Israel for two years
• Featured at President Moshe Katsav’s personal residence in honor of International Domestic Violence day 2002
• Presented as part of Israeli delegation to the United Nations for the international delegation of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)
• I performed Flowers Aren't Enough for many of Israel’s leading women’s organizations (Witzo, Amit, Hadassah, Na’Amat, Emuna, et al), in communities throughout Israel
• Performed at New York City’s – “Off- Off Broadway “Here” Theatre, Trinity Repertory theatre Rhode Island, Fremont Center Theatre South Pasadena, Warner Theatre –San Pedro, CA
• Toured India five (5) times and performed in association with the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts, the Indian Foundation for the Arts, and the Prakriti Foundation, and performances were held in Channi, Mumbai, Ahmdabad, New Delhi, Puna and many of India’s rural villages
• Toured Australia, at both the Perth season WA fringe festival, Canberra season national multicultural festival, Subiaco Theatre Center, Woman’s Refuge Group of western Australia, National Council of Jewish Women of Australia, and for the Human rights and Equal Opportunity commission
• Toured New Zealand at Unitec University, Arohata woman's prison in Wellington and local woman's groups and theatres
• Toured Belgrade, Serbia with the Israeli foreign ministry and the Serbia ministry of social affairs, United Nations Development program and the Center for woman war victims as well as for the Macedonian Medical Students Association international conference in Macedonia.
• Keynote speaker and presenter at numerous national and international conferences on women’s health and domestic violence
• A 27-minute abbreviated version of play aired on Israeli Education television November 2003
• A 27