Powerstories Theatre Presents CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE: THE MAGDALENE LAUNDRIES

The harrowing play, CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE: THE MAGDALENE LAUNDRIES, an hour-long drama set in 1980s Ireland, confronts the often-shrouded, controversial topic of abuse in the Catholic Church. For twenty-two years, Powerstories has been driven by giving voice to women. Though difficult to watch, this story needs to be told more than ever in our history. We are the first in Florida to debut this vastly unknown story based on Ireland's sordid religious history. Named after Mary Magdalene, the laundries were meant to be places of reform and repentance where women could wash away their sins while scrubbing dirty laundry to benefit the Church financially. The laundries operated unregulated from the 18th century through 1996.

 

In this premiering play, Rosemary is an unruly sixteen-year-old girl whose stern father fears is soiling the family's good name. She is abandoned at the Irish laundries under the pretense that he is taking her to a "strict" convent school to finish her high-school education. Instead, she finds herself a prisoner, overworked, underfed, and physically and mentally abused by the Magdalene Sisters.

 

This play received resoundingly positive remarks from the audience during its premiere. See their feedback: https://fb.watch/cLJu-H26Tn/

As part of CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE: THE MAGDALENE LAUNDRIES, Powerstories is honored to have youngest known person ever to have entered the Irish laundries speaking to us live on Zoom from Ireland on Saturday, May 14 at 3pm EST. Survivor Diane Croghan entered the laundries at eight years old and endured nearly five years of abuse before escaping. ?????????? ???????????? ???????????? ???????? ?????????????? ?? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????????????????? ???????????? ???????????? ???????????? ??????????.