Laconia Congregational Church Presents 'My Name is Rachel Corrie'

LACONIA — The Outreach committee of the Congregational Church of Laconia, UCC, 18 Veterans Square, presents My Name is Rachel Corrie on May 9 at 7 p.m. The play was first performed at the Royal Court Theatre in England and has been subsequently performed all over the world in over 250 productions.

Rachel Corrie grew up in Olympia, Washington and traveled to Gaza at the height of the second intifada with the International Solidarity Movement in January 2003. On March 16 of that year, she was killed by an Israeli bulldozer while selflessly defending a Palestinian family's home that was to be demolished for the establishment of illegal Israeli settlements. Shortly after her death actor Alan Rickman (of Harry Potter fame) and journalist Katherine Viner compiled Rachel's lyrical and insightful writings into a one person show.

In the play we witness Rachel mature from a precocious and deeply perceptive adolescent to a young woman who finds her voice and her place in the world. There she felt she had an obligation to pursue peace in the face of unimaginable danger and suffering. Many have compared this journal to the writings of Anne Frank.

Ashley Malloy plays Rachel Corrie. This performance tour not only intends to tell Rachel's story, but also to raise awareness and funds for The Freedom Theatre in the West Bank, Palestine.The theatre was founded in 2006 as a place where young people could find refuge and transform their frustrations towards the Israeli Occupation into acts of theatrical creation.

The play is directed by Josh Perlstein, professor of Theatre at Central Connecticut State University.

The performance will be followed immediately by a discussion led by director Perlstein about the situation between the Israelis and Palestinians.