“The women’s question has long been settled. So why are we still talking about it?”

Pianist Christopher Donison once remarked that the world can be divided into two circuits—one for those with large hands and one for those with small hands.

Faces is an original production about women experiencing situations that defy the principles of a just society. Through authentic testimonies, it sheds light on pressing social issues and sparks discussions on human rights and social justice. The performance incorporates real-life accounts from individuals who have faced discrimination or become victims of crime. Its inspiration came from a recent attack on a student in Bratislava.

Women face discrimination daily, whether in their professional or personal lives. This production explores the link between subtle, often overlooked forms of discrimination and acts of violence.

Three actresses of different nationalities—a Czech, a Slovak, and a Ukrainian—each raised in different environments, present three distinct perspectives on the world. They lend their faces and voices to the real stories of women. The core of the play is built around three recent true stories from three cities—Bratislava, Brno, and Kyiv.

Three stories of violence. Violence that is unexpected. Violence that happens behind closed doors. Violence known only to women living in occupied territories. All three share one common element—fear. How many ordinary daily activities are limited by the fear of simply existing in one’s own body? And why is it that, in society, women are seen as the ones who “lack control”? Why is a man considered the “universal human,” while anything female must always be explicitly defined?

Isn’t it all just a game of power?

Premiere: April 15, 2024, HaDivadlo
Duration: 90 min

Authors: Martina Tomanová & Collective
Director: Gabriela Gabašová
Set & Costume Design: Barbora Klenová
Music: Tomáš Urík
Graphic Design: Barbora Klenová
Production: Lucie Rožcová
Light Design: Petr Kholl
Technical Collaboration: Pavel Jirgl

Cast: Martina Tomanová, Nikolietta Svidzinska, Tereza Havránková