The Body Gossip Sofa hits Alternative Fashion Week

Thu, 17/04/2008 - 5:31pm

Radio presenter Ruth Rogers is bringing her Body Gossip sofa to Spitalfields Market for Alternative Fashion Week and inviting everyone there to write a sentence about their bodies.
The sofa, which has already has a successful visit to Edinburgh’s Fringe Festival, is helping to raise awareness about the issue of body image and is part of Ruth’s nationwide writing competition which she plans to turn into a one-off West End performance.

The idea came to Ruth a couple of years ago after a visit to New York. “I’ve worked a lot in theatre and I have never really thought about my body - it’s just never really been important. But after just two months working in New York, I was on the verge of getting an eating disorder. If I stayed longer I think I would have developed one.” Ruth is asking people across the UK to submit their own true experiences of body image. From these monologues, winners will be selected to have their story told on stage by a celebrity at a West End theatre for one night only. After this, Ruth will auction the sofas which will be on stage for the show, and give the money raised to Eating Disorder Charity, Beat.

On Tuesday April 22nd, size 16 model and Miss Great Britain contestant Chloe Marshall will be at Alternative Fashion Week encouraging people to contribute their thoughts about their own body image. “So far we have five Body Gossip sofas” says Ruth, “well actually it is one sofa with a series of covers - I think we should get two or three more during Alternative Fashion Week.” Ruth’s project is totally self-funded but she is keen to hook up with brands or individuals who would like to contribute. “It’s an amazing advertising opportunity” she says. Ruth has been deeply affected by some of the submissions so far. “Men, women and children worry about their bodies so much” she says, “it could be the most worthwhile theatre event of the year.”

To make your mark on Body Gossip’s sofa, head to Spitalfields Market, off Brushfield Street E1 between 12noon-3pm from Monday 21st April Friday 25th April.

Words: Marian Buckley

www.bodygossip.org