Event and Ticketing Details
Dates & Times
Tuesday 07 March
6:15 PM - 7:15 PM
‘Forgiveness is the only way, I tell myself, because whether or not he deserves my forgiveness, I deserve peace.’
Thordis Elva and Tom Stranger met as teenagers when he was an exchange student in Iceland. They were an ordinary high-school couple until one evening, Tom raped Thordis. Tom returned to Australia soon after.
Nine years later, Thordis contacted Tom via email and confronted him. Many years of painful communication between the two followed until eventually, they met up in person in the hopes that Thordis could forgive Tom’s acts and both could move on.
Today, Thordis Elva is a journalist, playwright and activist and among the most prominent feminist voices in Iceland. Her most recent project is a confronting work of non-fiction. It’s a book, South of Forgiveness, and it’s co-authored by Tom Stranger. South of Forgiveness tells their true story of violence and reckoning; a collaboration between rape survivor and perpetrator that is without precedent.
In a candid conversation with Natasha Mitchell, Thordis and Tom will discuss their collaboration and the consequences of sexual violence. Please note, a warning: this will be a confronting discussion focusing on a true story of a sex crime.
Thordis Elva’s visit is supported by the Icelandic Literature Fund.
This discussion includes topics that some attendees may find confronting. Audience questions from this event will not be recorded and published.
Featuring
Thordis Elva
Thordis Elva is known to Icelanders as a writer, journalist, public speaker and Woman of the Year 2015. Nine of her plays have been professionally produced, and her book about gender-based violence earned her a nomination for the Icelandic Literature Prize.
In 2011, she founded an equality campaign that sparked a national debate, and in 2012 she was commissioned to reinvent the approach to violence prevention and sex education in Icelandic schools, resulting in award-winning short films.
She has been the Chairman of the Board of the Icelandic Women’s Shelter, has served on government committees, and is a sought-after speaker on subjects like gender equality and non-consensual pornography. She holds a BA in theatre, an MA in editing and publishing, and currently resides in Stockholm, Sweden with her partner Vidir and their son.
Thomas Stranger
Thomas Stranger has worked in both the youth and outdoor recreation sector since completing his Bachelor of Social Science in 2002. He also holds Certificate III and IV in Youth Work, and is currently in the latter stages of a Masters of Cultural Studies at the University of Sydney.
Outdoor and water based pursuits have been a steady and constant source of rejuvenation, and it’s safe to say this will always be the case. His career path has seen him work in various sectors (community services, charity, construction, hospitality) and he remains open to opportunities for change and challenge in the future, but for now is deeply content working locally and residing by Sydney Harbour with his fiancé Cat.
Natasha Mitchell
Natasha Mitchell is a multi-award-winning journalist, radio presenter, podcaster, and audio storyteller. She is host of the ABC Radio National's flagship Big Ideas program and podcast, was founding host and producer ...