Highly commended
Unseen Unheard: The Untold Breast Cancer Stories of Black Women in the UK
Summary of work
“When you ask them for something more suited to you, they just sigh, or roll their eyes. And I’m starting to feel as if I’m an inconvenience and I shouldn’t feel like that.” Dorah (play character)
Black women diagnosed with breast cancer (bc) have been found to have poorer survival than White women. Pioneering charity Black Women Rising identified that Black women feel UNSEEN and UNHEARD when compared to White women facing the same life-changing cancer diagnosis, and Gilead Sciences committed their support in helping to change this. Together with Mearns & Pike and Theatre Peckham, they set out to ignite a conversation about cancer inequalities that would bring about action, through the creation of a beautiful, powerful and disruptive play for theatre.
Unseen Unheard ran to a packed-out, community theatre in Peckham over six nights. Performed by professional actors to media, charities, HCPs, policy makers/influencers and most importantly, Black women living with cancer, the play brought the raw experience of Black women to the forefront and highlighted the aspects that need to change for them to feel properly represented and cared for in their cancer journeys. The play has been a catalyst to translate these concepts into tangible actions.
Judges’ comments
The ‘Unseen Unheard’ project showed a lot of strength in its approach and objectives. The collaboration was framed extremely well, with representation around a minority group. The approach was great and it was a true example of collaboration.
