A note from the Playwright

Sometimes dreams are all that keep us going. As this play went into production, I dreamt
I was with Celestine in Nigeria. But this was a Celestine who had never been trafficked.
We walked, looking in shop windows and cafes, then out into the countryside, through
open hills, chatting and laughing. When I told her I worried a lot, her laughter rang in the
blue air, and she gave me a bear hug. We came to a meeting place, where she knew the
men and wasn’t afraid. I met her boyfriend, a spirited young man, who treaded out with
her into a wide river with a shallow current. They were surefooted, full of courage and
hope.

What a bittersweet dream—on the one hand, the world of could-have-been, the Garden
that is forever lost to us, and on the other hand, a world rich in possibility. I dream of a
place where women are respected, free to live out their dreams. A world where a woman
can walk without fear.

Catherine Cunningham-Huston

A Note from the Director

My journey with The Walk has touched my heart and opened my eyes and turned my
stomach. Now more than ever I try to give thanks for the blessed life I get to live, making
a career, following my dreams, with my son and daughter safe, healthy and supported at
home. In many ways this issue is so huge and difficult it feels like this effort is almost
irrelevant, almost. Every person on this planet matters. Man or woman, young or old,
victim or violator. We were all innocent once and we all suffer at times and we all
struggle with power, status and identity in the ebb and flow of life. My deepest desire as
director and humanitarian is to have this play evoke a real emotion and a deep thought
from each audience member. What each of you does with that is yours, but at least we
will all share an intimate real moment in time together looking at a difficult truth of the
current state of our misguided world. Thank you for coming, being and experiencing in
this with us. I hope you see beauty in the sorrow, and yourself and your loved ones in
these characters on an everyman level. I can't escape the thought, "What if it were my
daughter?"

Natalie Fraser