Refuge Woman by Cash Carraway

Sixteen years. 13 women’s refuges. 687 lists. 12 productions of The Vagina Monologues. And 1 suitcase. Now she’s starting all over again. Again.

Cash is a self-confessed “refuge connoisseur”. She knows the refuges with the best counsellors, clothing donations and the ones closest to the heartiest of ‘all you can eat’ buffets. Over the past 16 years she has escaped to refuges from Aldershot to Southend-on-Sea. And now she’s just set foot in what she has decided is her final refuge. It’s crumbling round the edges and she shares her room with rats – it isn’t exactly how she imagined escaping from abuse, but now she has a young daughter to consider she’s out of options.

Inspired by real life events, this darkly humorous, spoken-word performance provides snapshots of life in a women’s refuge, as Cash attempts to rebuild her life from scratch in a world where an Argos suitcase contains everything she needs to start again.

The performance will be followed by a talk lead by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, with local journalists and experts about funding cuts to local refuges across the region.

Total running time: 90 mins. 7.30pm doors 7pm

The performance contains descriptions of violence and strong language. Not suitable for under 16 years old.

The Refuge Woman Tour is a recipient of Finding Common Ground, a project funded by the Robert Bosch Stiftung.

A collection for a local domestic violence provision will take place on the night. Donations to support the Bureau of Investigative Journalism can also be made through an enhanced ticket price – see below :

£5 General entry

£10 “Thanks for helping us put on this show”

£20 “I love this work and want to help you do more”