Ava-Gail Gardiner

This is how Ava-Gail describes herself

For me drama is more than just art, as it easily lends itself to be used as a vehicle for social commentary. In my work as a development consultant, I have found drama to be an effective tool to address sensitive issues such as social marginalisation, sexuality, violence against women and HIV/AIDS.

Since returning to the Caribbean in 2003, after working in Europe and Africa, I have focused much of my creative energy on reducing violence against women. Efforts include producing and co-directing Eve Ensler's, "THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES", and developing "AGAINST HER WILL" a public awareness and advocacy programme addressing sexual violence for radio and newspaper in Jamaica and Haiti. In 2006, I won the UNIFEM/ PAHO Regional Award for Gender Journalism for the print series based on the testimonies of rape victims.

UNHEARD CRIES was the genesis for BREAKING THE SILENCE (LE VOILE DU SILENCE) a 6-part video documentary series on violence against women in the Caribbean, which I am currently writing and co-producing.

While I moonlight in the theatre, my day job is as creative director of "Visions of the Caribbean" a dynamic audio-visual production company dedicated to creating positive content particularly for Caribbean audiences.

From: http://wpic.riksteatern.se/blog/542