Paper Smokers

In 1966 Franca Viola became the first Italian woman to take to court a cultural convention that would have her marry her abuser Filippo Melodia, a mafia youngster, who would see his crime erased through the marriage. Franca changed the course of justice and opened the path for other women to follow. With her NO she transformed a generation’s understanding of crime, consent, and community.

Inspired by Franca’s resistance and other historical and contemporary activists, this project aims to interrogate the act of saying NO and how it can become a model of opposition and resistance. Combining immersive experiences, theatre and live art installation, Franca Says No wants to inspire audiences to use this word without guilt to enforce boundaries.

Paper Smokers is a London based collective of international artists and storytellers producing theatre, film and installations. We share stories of outsiders and focus on work that is multilingual, transnational and exists across borders. Franca Says No is the third collaboration of Cecilia Gragani and Katharina Reinthaller for Paper Smokers.

Find the team online:
Twitter: @Paper_Smokers
Instagram: @paper_smokers
Facebook: PaperSmokers