ANTI-HARASSMENT THEATRE PLAY : KING KONG'S TRIAL

Des Pont à la place des Murs literally Bridges instead of Walls is a French theatre company lead by the cinematograph Ouahide Dibane. Their aim is to create interactive theatre with their audience to build up a reasonable reflection on society matters.

The King Kong's Trial aims to sensitive a young audience about harassment in various domains whether it is religion, sexual abuse, violence and social pressure. The story takes place at the beggining of the first year of Engineering School for three students : Axel, Alex and Omar. The whole piece is clearly divided in three parts to introduce a potential trial where turn by turn each of the character is the actual victim and the two others might be culprits.

Ouahide Dibane plays a court judge who is in charge of listening each of the character's testimony in order for the audience to decide whether they are victims or culprits.

The very first play takes place the morning after the students' first party to incorporate themselve into the school. According to the two girls Axel and Alex, Omar couldn't settle himself properly because of his religion. In fact, he didn't want to drink alcohool at the beggining but he was force to do so, so perhaps he might be better incorporated among other students. Omar ended up at the hospitals and the two girls were still mad at him for respecting his own religious conviction.

The other two following plays tackled sexual harassment and more deeply the notion of consent in the eyes of the law.

Why this theatre play is essential to validate my Civic Engagement ?

As first year students, after two or three years of intense scientific courses and stressful public examinations, some people might slip into wanting to partying very hard. Some students can change of behavior under the effect of alcohool and tiredness. Therefore, it is for us students crucial to be aware of our safety wheter it is physical or mental. It seems also invaluable of these matters to be able to help others before they get in a delicate situation.