The Play tells the family tragedy of the in-love couple Leila and Ilmari. They are genetically deaf. According to the Marriage Act, Leila would not have been allowed to marry Ilmari without agreeing to be sterilized as soon as the first child was born. They had a deaf child whom mother Leila has protected above all else.

In Finland, deaf women were sterilized between 1935-1969, and Leila´s mother underwent the same procedure. This is why Leila has remained an only child, of which she was unware until she heard about it from her mother when the priest “forced” her to undergo sterilization. Leila accused her parents of lying. The play also explores shame, the exploitation of femininity, despair, and awareness.

Sterilization was a shameful matter for deaf women, something kept silent or unknown to these women who were subjected to the procedure. They also mourned the fact that they could not have more children than just one. The women struggled with the uncertainly of the meaning and procedure of forced sterilization, as there were not interpreters available at the time. A deaf deaconess or priest “assisted” in interpretation.

Leila, who dreamt of having more children, tried to avoid sterilization, but the couple would have become outcasts in society. Therefore, they had to “comply” with society´s demand. Leila did not want to exchange Ilmari for another man, for example, someone who are hearing. Instead, she was willing to give up everything for the sake of great love to keep her beloved Ilmari and was therefore ready to give birth to only one child and undergo sterilization.

Forced sterilization was abolished in 1960.

Script : Jaana Tiainen
Directing : Marianne Aro
Performers : Silva Belghiti, Heikki Pekki, Silja Ruonala, Dawn Jani Birley, Lee Robertson, Tero Suominen & Erika Pokki
Set designer/Stagemaster : Martin Aro
Voice/Music : Petteri Koskinen
Costumier : Tarja Aalto

Duration : 75 min

Production : Teatteri Totti

(Finland)

SHOW WITH INTERNATIONAL SIGN

The Play tells the family tragedy of the in-love couple Leila and Ilmari. They are genetically deaf. According to the Marriage Act, Leila would not have been allowed to marry Ilmari without agreeing to be sterilized as soon as the first child was born. They had a deaf child whom mother Leila has protected above all else.

In Finland, deaf women were sterilized between 1935-1969, and Leila´s mother underwent the same procedure. This is why Leila has remained an only child, of which she was unware until she heard about it from her mother when the priest “forced” her to undergo sterilization. Leila accused her parents of lying. The play also explores shame, the exploitation of femininity, despair, and awareness.

Sterilization was a shameful matter for deaf women, something kept silent or unknown to these women who were subjected to the procedure. They also mourned the fact that they could not have more children than just one. The women struggled with the uncertainly of the meaning and procedure of forced sterilization, as there were not interpreters available at the time. A deaf deaconess or priest “assisted” in interpretation.

Leila, who dreamt of having more children, tried to avoid sterilization, but the couple would have become outcasts in society. Therefore, they had to “comply” with society´s demand. Leila did not want to exchange Ilmari for another man, for example, someone who are hearing. Instead, she was willing to give up everything for the sake of great love to keep her beloved Ilmari and was therefore ready to give birth to only one child and undergo sterilization.

Forced sterilization was abolished in 1960.

Script : Jaana Tiainen
Directing : Marianne Aro
Performers : Silva Belghiti, Heikki Pekki, Silja Ruonala, Dawn Jani Birley, Lee Robertson, Tero Suominen & Erika Pokki
Set designer/Stagemaster : Martin Aro
Voice/Music : Petteri Koskinen
Costume designer : Tarja Aalto

Duration : 75 min

Production : Teatteri Totti

(Finland)