Aegos productions in association with Park Theatre will present Schism by disabled playwright Athena Stevens.
Failed architect Harrison had plans to end his life. The last thing he needed was Katherine, a young student with cerebral palsy, breaking into his house begging for his help. As their chaotic first encounter becomes a twenty-year relationship, they realise that they are capable of either building something great together or destroying each other.
Schism is written and co-performed by Athena Stevens who, like her character, has cerebral palsy. She said, "Schism took me years to write because I needed to understand the unhealthy power dynamics I was being asked to accept as a woman. People would set me up on a pedestal and call me 'inspirational' until I would ask to be their equal.
"To have a woman with a disability call you out for discrimination, or promoting an unhealthy power dynamic, or to say 'your actions are hurting me' throws a lot of people into shock. They get defensive and start gas-lighting because it's easier to brush things under the rug than to take responsibility for their actions. So the question that this play presents is 'how long do I hold onto the hope people will change and when do I need to let go and live my life without those people?"