B!RTH at the Wellcome Collection

4 October 2018

On the 4th October 2018 B!RTH performed two of its plays 'Orchid' and 'Q&Q' to an audience at the Wellcome Collection in London.

‘Orchid’ by Mῦmbi Kaigwa, addressed the burden of obstetric fistula in Kenya and tells the stories of real women living with this awful condition. ‘Q&Q’ by Liwaa Yazji, focused on the realities of pregnancy and childbirth through conflict. 

Following the performances, an expert panel discussion and audience debate was moderated by Fatima Manji, Channel 4 correspondent. The panel included:

  • Dr Benjamin Black, MSF / Doctors without borders
  • Professor Nynke van den Broek, Head of the Centre for Maternal and Newborn Health at LSTM
  • Dr Ayesha Ahmad, Lecturer in Global Health at St George’s University of London and UCL
  • Mary Otuko, UK Programmes Manager at FORWARD

Some feedback from the event attendees included 'Thought and emotion provoking' and 'It is vital to hear women's stories. They are as powerful as statistics and importantly without them researchers don't actually know what questions to ask to gain evidence'.

The event was live streamed and you can view a recording here.

‘Orchid’  and 'Q&Q' are available to download free for use by organisations around the world; if you’re inspired to use the plays, get in touch for more information and support.