This is Her story
20 Feb 2014 4:24 AM IST
The multi-faceted and impactful story of HeLa has been brought to India by QTP as part of its 15th anniversary celebrations.
HeLa has been inspired by the book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot, and is about ethics, equality and ownership of our DNA and will pose a question: ‘What is more human – the DNA that make up our bodies or the personalities that come from our souls?’ It is a true story of Henrietta Lacks, who in 1951 walked into the coloured section of the John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore with a pain in her abdomen. A cell sample taken without her permission was used as the raw material for some of the most important scientific discoveries of the past 100 years. This solo, one-woman show by actor Adura Onashile, takes as its inspiration the true life story of Henrietta Lacks and the extraordinary life of the HeLa cell line. It is an all-consuming story, intertwining genetic identity, social responsibility and current ethical debates about human tissue research and ownership. Directed by Graham Eatough, performed by actor Adura Onashile, HeLa is produced by Iron-Oxide, Scotland’s leading large-scale companies that specialises in producing daring outdoor shows. HeLa is a fusion of video, music, monologue and physicality.
The play was showcased at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2013 and ran to packed houses. HeLa was nominated for numerous Fringe Awards and also won the Flying Artichoke Award (Scottish Arts Club-Edinburgh Guide-Scottish Theatre Fringe Award). It also received nominations for Total Theatre Award 2013 and Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award 2013.
HeLa has been inspired by the book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot, and is about ethics, equality and ownership of our DNA and will pose a question: ‘What is more human – the DNA that make up our bodies or the personalities that come from our souls?’ It is a true story of Henrietta Lacks, who in 1951 walked into the coloured section of the John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore with a pain in her abdomen. A cell sample taken without her permission was used as the raw material for some of the most important scientific discoveries of the past 100 years. This solo, one-woman show by actor Adura Onashile, takes as its inspiration the true life story of Henrietta Lacks and the extraordinary life of the HeLa cell line. It is an all-consuming story, intertwining genetic identity, social responsibility and current ethical debates about human tissue research and ownership. Directed by Graham Eatough, performed by actor Adura Onashile, HeLa is produced by Iron-Oxide, Scotland’s leading large-scale companies that specialises in producing daring outdoor shows. HeLa is a fusion of video, music, monologue and physicality.
The play was showcased at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2013 and ran to packed houses. HeLa was nominated for numerous Fringe Awards and also won the Flying Artichoke Award (Scottish Arts Club-Edinburgh Guide-Scottish Theatre Fringe Award). It also received nominations for Total Theatre Award 2013 and Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award 2013.
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