"[Domestic violence] is a problem felt all over the world, common to all social classes: there are well-off families of professionals where violence is present," playwright Dacia Maraini tells SBS Italian.
Her play Hurried Steps (an English translation of "Passi affrettati") is coming to Sydney's stage to mark White Ribbon Day in Australia, UN's International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women which is held on November 25 and to support UN WOMEN'S CAMPAIGN - 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
Maraini originally wrote the play in 2009 to support Amnesty International's "Stop Violence Against Women and Girls" campaign.
The play explores the reasons why violence against women is prevalent in all countries and cultures, and across all social, religious, geographical and cultural groups. The original text has been translated into English by Sharon Wood, University of Leicester lecturer.
"[Hurried Steps] is a composite play, with stories that can be added or taken out: in this case I have added a story based in Australia," explains Maraini, of how the play has been adapted for the new audience.
The stories told in the hour-long play are about women who lived in Belgium, Italy, Jordan, UK, Mexico, Nigeria, Tibet and Albania. Maraini has now written a new one especially for the Australian production.
One of the issues about domestic violence that she is hoping to address is the misconception that it can only affect certain types of people.
"It is commonly believed that domestic violence happens in families that are poor, disadvantaged, marred by alcoholism," Maraini says.
"I try to go beyond the news story to convey the voices of the people involved, and their motives."
"Unfortunately I have realised - and I have read hundreds and hundreds of stories - that violence also happens in families that are well-off, professionals, university-educated people."
"I try to make people hear the voices of the victims but also, sometimes, of the perpetrators, trying to convey the complexity of these issues.
"I try to go beyond the news story to convey the voices of the people involved, and their motives.”
With an estimated one in three women having experienced physical and/or sexual violence perpetrated by someone known to them - and rates not declining but actually on the rise in Australia, White Ribbon Day and Maraini's play help propel the issue becomes part of the national conversation.
Hurried Steps' Sydney cast (from R to L): Grant Cartwright, Olivia Brown, Bodelle de Ronde, Lex Marinos Source: Ray Wing Lun
"We don’t talk enough about these problems - it is never enough."
"I cannot give answers because a writer cannot give an answer to these problems," explains Maraini. "But I try to raise awareness among the public opinion, this is what I try to do. Because we don’t talk enough about these problems, it is never enough."
"We need to teach young children, boys and girls, that human beings are sacred, not in a religious sense but sacred because they have their own integrity, and you can’t impose [on anyone] love, you can’t impose faithfulness, you can’t impose what is a spontaneous feeling."
Below, listen to Dacia Maraini's full interview (in Italian) with SBS Italian Radio.
“You can love as much as you want, but love is not ownership: we have to teach this to children, adults, and teachers as well”
HURRIED STEPS by Dacia Maraini, translated by Sharon Wood and directed by Nicolette Kay, is on show in Sydney until Sunday 26 November:
NIDA Playhouse 215 Anzac Pde, Kensington | Fri 25th Nov 11am & 2pm | Sat 26 Nov 2.30pm & 7.30pm
New Theatre, 542 King St, Newtown | Sun 27 Nov 11am
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