Winner
Unseen Unheard: The Untold Breast Cancer Stories of Black Women in the UK
by Mearns & Pike for Gilead Sciences in partnership with Black Women Rising
Summary of work
“So when you ask them for something more suited to you, they just look at you blankly...or roll their eyes. And I’m starting to feel as if I’m an inconvenience and I shouldn’t feel like that.” Dorah (play character)
Black women diagnosed with breast cancer have been found to have poorer survival than White women. Pioneering charity Black Women Rising identified that Black women feel UNSEEN and UNHEARD when compared to White women facing the same life-changing cancer diagnosis, and Gilead Sciences committed their support in helping to change this. Together with Mearns & Pike and Theatre Peckham, they set out to ignite a conversation about cancer inequalities that would bring about action, through the creation of a beautiful, powerful and disruptive Play.
Unseen Unheard ran to a packed-out, community theatre in Peckham over six nights. Performed by professional actors to media, charities, HCPs, policy makers/influencers and most importantly, Black women living with cancer, the play brought the raw experience of Black women to the forefront and highlighted the aspects that need to change for them to feel properly represented and cared for in their cancer journeys. The play has been a catalyst to translate these concepts into tangible actions.
Judges’ comments
Mearns & Pike, Gilead Sciences and Black Women Rising have designed a really creative and innovative digital performance involving real patients and real stories that led to strong output data and outcome data. The judges noted the simplicity and clarity of the objectives that were outlined, along with the brave, bold and powerful approach of selecting theatre in a world of digitality to start a conversation about addressing an issue and getting people to try and understand the experiences portrayed.
