This powerful verbatim puppetry performance traces the life of activist Hoda Ali, from her childhood in Somalia to her flight to Europe as a survivor of female circumcision and female genital mutilation (FGM). With great care and sensitivity, the performance brings her story to the stage: from carefree childhood play to the traumatic circumcision ritual at the age of seven, and the profound medical and emotional consequences that followed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Presented in a respectful and informative way, the performance offers insight into the realities of FGM and contributes to efforts to end the practice. Through puppetry, projections and storytelling, Hoda shares her message: \u201cIf you save one girl, you save a generation.\u201d\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A post-performance discussion will follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nikki Charlesworth, Hoda Ali, Alison Denholm | Puppetry\u00a0| United Kingdom & Somalia<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This powerful verbatim puppetry performance traces the life of activist Hoda Ali, from her childhood in Somalia to her flight to Europe as a survivor of female circumcision and female genital mutilation (FGM). With great care and sensitivity, the performance brings her story to the stage: from carefree childhood play to the traumatic circumcision ritual…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":3119,"template":"","topic":[],"editions":[606],"festival_production_types":[28],"class_list":["post-3066","production","type-production","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","edition-606","festival_production_type-performance"],"acf":{"makers":[{"ID":6166,"post_author":"601","post_date":"2025-11-10 09:33:07","post_date_gmt":"2025-11-10 08:33:07","post_content":"\n Nikki Charlesworth is a Theatre Designer and Maker, (including puppetry design and making), Facilitator and recently turned Animator. Nottingham born and bred, Nikki works from her Nottingham home. After graduating from\u00a0Nottingham Trent University in Theatre Design, she was the winner of the\u00a0Evening Standard Future Theatre Fund\u00a0in 2021, and has since worked at the forefront of disabled-led theatre making, contributing to new work within the sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nikki also creates new work under\u00a0Nikki Charlesworth Productions, with a nurturing focus on Puppetry, Health and Disability for young audiences, as Producer, Designer and Director. Shows have included\u00a0\u201cWhat Happened to You?\u201d<\/em>, which has toured extensively since creation in 2021, going to outdoor festivals, libraries, studio theatres and hospitals, both in the UK and in Canada, and\u00a0The Luckiest Girl Alive<\/em>, premiering in 2024 and visiting Nottingham, Derby and London.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","post_title":"Nikki Charlesworth","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"nikki-charlesworth","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-11-10 09:33:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-11-10 08:33:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/icafrotterdam.com\/?post_type=maker&p=6166","menu_order":0,"post_type":"maker","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6171,"post_author":"601","post_date":"2025-11-10 09:45:14","post_date_gmt":"2025-11-10 08:45:14","post_content":"\n Hoda Ali is a nurse and human-rights activist based in the United Kingdom, committed to ending female genital mutilation (FGM) and defending the rights of girls. She works as a Community Outreach Project Manager for Safeguarding at Perivale Primary School, one of the first schools in the UK to establish an outreach program addressing FGM. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to her activism, Hoda\u2019s story has been brought to the stage in the theatre production The Luckiest Girl Alive (written by Hoda Ali), a piece of puppet theatre that retraces her life: from her early childhood in Somalia and the experience of FGM, through her journey to the UK and her advocacy work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Her theatrical work blends lived experience, storytelling and performance to raise awareness, spark dialogue and contribute to social change around gender-based violence and cultural tradition.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Hoda Ali","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"hoda-ali","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-11-10 09:45:16","post_modified_gmt":"2025-11-10 08:45:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/icafrotterdam.com\/?post_type=maker&p=6171","menu_order":0,"post_type":"maker","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6175,"post_author":"601","post_date":"2025-11-10 09:57:13","post_date_gmt":"2025-11-10 08:57:13","post_content":"\n Alison Denholm<\/strong> is the Creative Development Manager<\/strong> at City Arts , responsible for nurturing new artistic ideas and projects, with a particular focus on outdoor arts<\/strong>, including carnival, street puppetry, festivals, and large-scale public events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n City Arts<\/strong> has been breaking down barriers since 1977, reconnecting people with art, culture, and creativity. 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