Ethical issues explored in Girl X as actor and equalities rights activist Robert Softley teams up with Aalst Director Pol Heyvaert.

Girl X will be presented as part of National Theatre of Scotland’s five week Reveal residency at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh. Girl X opens on Friday 4th March until Saturday 12th March. and will then tour to the Citizens Theatre, Glasgow 16th March until 19th March, Dundee Rep Theatre 12th March and Eden Court, Inverness from 19th April until 20th April 2011.

The production looks at the case of 11-year old Maggie Mills who has severe cerebral palsy and the mental age of a 5-month old infant. Her condition will not improve and her mother believes that the physical changes that accompany adolescence will be detrimental to her daughter’s wellbeing. So, to spare her the onset of menstruation, Mrs Mills has requested that surgeons remove her daughter’s womb.

The doctors have accepted Mrs Mills’ argument that this controversial surgery will improve Maggie’s quality of life and have sought legal approval to carry out the procedure.

In Girl X the Mills case is examined from the point of view of the onlookers, made up of a Greek chorus that asks what could or should happen next. Performer and disabled rights activist Robert Softley challenges this chorus, examining the Mills case and related ethical issues.

Girl X began its journey when Robert Softley approached the National Theatre of Scotland with a series of materials that he wanted to see explored on stage. The Company partnered him with writer and director Pol Heyvaert, leading to a period of research followed by a week’s intensive exploration with performance students attending the National Theatre of Scotland’s Diaspora in 2008. A further research period and a week of practical development were then undertaken with dramaturg Bart Capelle before rehearsals began. These stages of development led to Girl X becoming part of the National Theatre of Scotland’s repertoire.

Robert explains the thinking behind the production,

“Girl X started four years ago as an idea in my head following a case in the US where a disabled girl was given a hysterectomy and hormone treatment. At the time it was very controversial but I found the reaction of some non-disabled people quite shocking. A lot of people were saying the mother knows best and I found this frightening. Girl X is really a response to that, and I guess how we see disabled people, and how we treat people when they might become disabled.”

The full creative team is director Pol Heyvaert, text by Pol Heyvaert, Robert Softley and Bart Capelle, music composed by Scott Twynholm, dramaturgy Bart Capelle, cast Robert Softley and chorus

Girl X is likely to elicit strong views and provoke passionate discussion and is recommended for those aged 16+.

The Reveal residency offers audiences a wide range of opportunities to experience artists’ ideas and work at different stages of the creative process. From readings of new plays by writers who have never had their work professionally performed, to challenging ideas explored by experienced directors and writers making their way onto the stage, all will be interrogated and chewed over by audiences in a whole range of productions.

For information about all the activities featured in the Reveal Season click here

Vicky Featherstone, Artistic Director, National Theatre of Scotland explains the motivation behind the Reveal Season:  “It’s time to pull back the curtains and invite audiences in to experience some of the work we have been developing at the National Theatre of Scotland. There is much in here about Scotland’s interest with the international world – plays from Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina in the A Play, A Pie and A Pint season as well as the ethical complexity of a person’s right to make decisions for other people explored in Girl X.”

Source: National Theatre of Scotland