A play
written and performed by University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) students hopes to
spread awareness about human trafficking in Oklahoma.
The play,
called “VOICED: The Real Story of Prostituted Women” was performed at the
University of Oklahoma (OU) on April 24. The play was written and directed by
UCO seniors Claudia Fain and Summer Nolan. The 45-minute long play detailed
human sex trafficking and the young women who are victims of it. It is intended
for mature audiences.
Some may
believe that human trafficking is a big-city problem; however, it happens in
rural areas too, such as Oklahoma. Fain and Nolan say young women are the
targets of pimps and forced into a life of prostitution.
“Oklahoma
has some bad areas, some areas in the city… They take young girls to be what
they call ‘truck stop girls’…” said Nolan.
VOICED
features a series of monologues and other scenes to depict the life of the
victims of human trafficking. Nolan and Fain had no specific inspiration or
story when they were writing the play, however, that doesn’t mean it is any
less realistic.
“We
fantasized the stories a little bit… but they are not far off from what is
actually happening to many women out there,” said Fain.
The audience
consisted of about 75 people inside of Dale Hall 103. The play was well
received by the audience, prompting some audience members to stand up following
the final curtain. The play was free for audience members but donations were
accepted. All proceeds went to non-profit organizations Gender Equality and
Reproductive Rights (GEARR), Oklahomans Against Trafficking Humans (OATH), and
No Boundaries.
“At least 70 percent of women in a sex
industry job, whether its porn, strip clubs, or prostitution, were forced there
in some way or anything,” Fain said, “we just hope to let people know just how
bad this problem is.”
“VOICED: The
Real Story of Prostituted Women” is a memorable, if not slightly disturbing
look at a grim world.
(VIDEO: Matt Dyer, runtime 3:21)
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