Monique Wilson stars in controversial new play

MANILA, Philippines - After four years away from the Philippine theater scene, acclaimed theater actress Monique Wilson stars in New Voice Company’s My Name is Rachel Corrie at the Music Museum on Sept. 3 and 4.

Why did a 23-year-old woman leave her comfortable American life to stand between a bulldozer and a Palestinian home? My Name Is Rachel Corrie, edited by Alan Rickman and Katherine Viner, taken from the writings of Rachel Corrie herself, tells the story of her short life and sudden death from the words she left behind.

Rachel Corrie was an American peace activist from Olympia, Washington, who was crushed to death by an Israeli bulldozer on March 16, 2003, while undertaking non-violent direct action to protect the home of a Palestinian family from demolition.

Shortly after her death, several of her e-mails home from Gaza were published in a number of media outlets, including in the Guardian UK. British actor and director Alan Rickman was so moved by them that he approached the Royal Court Theater about finding away to tell Rachel’s story onstage. A year after her death, Corrie’s family sent the theater 184 pages of documents: copies of Rachel’s letters, e-mails and journals — some dating back to her childhood. Guardian journalist Katherine Viner was brought on board to work with Rickman at editing the material into a play. The two decided to let Rachel’s story be told in her own words.

In April 2005, My Name is Rachel Corrie, directed by Rickman and performed by Megan Dodds, opened at the Royal Court Theater, and became the fastest-selling play in the theaters’ history, selling out two complete runs before transferring to the West End the following year. The play was critically acclaimed and won the Theatergoers’ Choice Awards for Best Director, Best New Play and Best Solo Performance.

The Asian premiere of My Name is Rachel Corrie is directed by New Voice Company associate artistic director Rito Asilo, acclaimed for his production of Eve Ensler’s The Good Body, Into the Woods, Frozen, Stones In His Pcoket, Sacrilege, Cabaret and The Vagina Monologues. Light design by Martin Esteva, set design by Denis Lagdameo and technical direction by Jaime Wilson.

My Name is Rachel Corrie is also a celebration of Monique’s 30 years in theater, and New Voice Company’s sixth anniversary year.

Monique, fresh from a recent trip to Palestine and back in Manila for a few weeks to star in the play, is currently head of the MA/MFA Acting for International students course at the East 15 Acting School in England where she is now based. East 15 Acting School is a member of the Conference of Drama Schools in the UK. She has just finished directing Martin Crimp’s Attempts On Her Life at the Actor’s Center, London, and Federico Garcia Lorca’s Dona Rosita the Spinster at the Battersea Arts Center, London. Both productions featured international artists from all over the world.

For information on Rachel Corrie, visit www.rachelcorriefoundation.org.

For tickets, call the New Voice company at 896-6695 or 896-5497, e-mail nvc@pldtdsl.net or visit www.newvoicecompany.com.