Trauma survival and its impact on society isn't new to us--it is a repeated pattern of humanity that we see even in early classical literature like Shakespeare. In the last year in particular, our world has faced a great deal of trauma; and the aftermath of it all won't be fully known for years to come.

The idea that individual and collective trauma and its ripple effects coexist and are not independent of one another is something that has been on our minds here at NYSX, which brings us to the creation of a Trauma-in-Shakespeare Freestyle Lab, coming this July 8th and 10th.

In Their Grief's True Quality, we will explore the themes that come along with trauma survival and post-trauma survival--helplessness, betrayal, violence, the feeling of being silenced, rebirth, healing, renewal, and more. Using moments from Shakespeare and pieces of real anonymous contemporary accounts of sexual violence and abuse from the online platform am.u.arT, we hope to highlight these timeless and universal themes that appear when trauma has struck us. 

As a trauma survivor, I hold this project very near and dear to my heart. You never know the extent of the battle someone is fighting, and my hope is that you all can be part of New York Shakespeare Exchange's movement to bring awareness to important issues that we grapple with all over the world, and in Shakespeare's works. Join us by supporting art that matters, moves, and provokes conversation!