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Carmen Medway-Stephens

CARMEN MEDWAY-STEPHENS

  
Nationality:    Welsh
email:    Click here to contact     Website:    n/a

Literary Agent:    n/a

Carmen Medway-Stephens writes plays pertinent to her home country Wales while exploring and commenting upon the personal and the political. Carmen's plays are universal in theme and can be related to by all walks of life. Her work centres on story and the voice that needs to be heard. Carmen won Sherman Cymru Script Slam and was invited to be a writer on their exclusive residency, during this time she run a writers room for aspiring writers at the Sherman Cymru. Carmen has lectured all subjects related to Drama with Scriptwriting for Theatre, TV, Film and Radio being her specialism for the last 18 years. Carmen now writes full time and has written several shorts and plays, film and spoken word. Her plays have been adapted and translated into Welsh and have toured across Wales. Carmen produces work that is as comfortable being performed in Theatres as it is in non conventional spaces such as chapels, rural venues and outdoors. Carmen's work has been described as 'Theatre of the Hearth' or polar opposite 'In Your Face' experimental reflecting her Drama training and her upbringing in matriarchal valley Wales Post Thatcher. The works often explores the female in society, the impact of language, loss of identity and the 'bigger picture'. Her work is described as 'human' 'spiritual', 'lifting the shackles of oppression' 'understanding the world we live in'. Her plays have been nominated several times for Best Playwright, Best Playwright & Production in the Welsh Language, Best Actress and Best Ensemble. Carmen founded 1.618 Theatr that explored political Theatre of War and then founded Theatr Gwalia which is now her full time Theatre Company. She has received mentorship from Sherman Cymru, Max Stafford Clarke, John McGrath and Sharon Morgan. Carmen has been asked to write for several Dirty Protest Events. Carmen has written several short films that have been shown in film festivals. In 2016 Carmen was Artist in Residence at Carnegie Hall. Her debut professional full play 'Utah Bride' is currently being adapted to film. Carmen also works as a theatre practitioner and is particularly interested in Teatro Povero and how the theatre model can work in Wales. Her work often includes themes and ideas around 'the challenging world we live in' the effects of Man - War and the Environment' 'Magic Realism, death and rebirth' stating that 'we as an audience, must be touched by the unknown and leave the theatre changed somehow'. Her work crosses genres and takes you on a roller-coaster of emotions including observational humour. Her current work included time spent on Cape Cod, New England working with the indigenous Wampanoag, Native Americans exploring the parallels with her home nation.

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below is a list of Carmen Medway-Stephens's plays - click on a Play Title for more information

         29 Women         Afghan Idol         Assembly - Margaret Thatcher and I could have been friends         AYP         Babies, Suicide and Dreams         Bara Bread         Barud Coch - The Kite         Bread and Butter in the Gutter         Capable Man, A         Collection of Shorts about Native American Racism         Coombe, The         Four Brothers         Hippy Doo Doo         I am a mother         I am from a country         Ice Cream on a Hot Day         Made in Britain         Miners         Powder Blue / Pili Pala         Priodferch Utah         Real Valleys, The         Riders To the Storm         Sands         'Tan' 'Fire'         Tea for Two         Tegid Gwyniad         Tynton Farm         Utah Bride, The         War - What is it good for?         Zanzibar and Cappuccino Babies

29 Women

Synopsis:
A play that rips up the rule book on writing, no named parts. The play explores the first 29 women who joined the New Afghan Army

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Theatre Stripped @ Chapter Arts     2010

Organisations:
Theatr 1.618 Theatre

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Drama Short

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  29 parts            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Afghan Idol

Synopsis:
A one woman play that explores the first woman to sing on the reality series Afghan Idol and its consequences

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Theatre Stripped @ Chapter Arts     2010

Organisations:
Theatr 1.618 Theatre

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Drama Short

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Assembly - Margaret Thatcher and I could have been friends

Synopsis:
A woman looks back at what happened to her Valley when Margaret Thatcher closed the coal mines and destroyed her family

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
National Theatre of Wales Assembly Project     2016

Organisations:
Theatr Gwalia

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Drama Short

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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AYP

Synopsis:
A play that rips up the rule book on writing and form and language becomes defunct. Futuristic Britain.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Script in Hand @ Chapter Arts     2010

Organisations:
Theatr 1.618 Theatre

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Drama Full Length

Parts:
Male:  5            Female:  5            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Babies, Suicide and Dreams

Synopsis:
A woman contemplates her future, her past, her present. The impact of being a mother.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Swansea Fridge & Cardiff Fringe     2010

Organisations:
Theatr 1.618 Theatre

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Drama Short

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Bara Bread

Synopsis:
A group of women from all walks of life and ages come together to bake bread and in doing so save themselves and their community. With an extra added ingredient of some magic realism.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Chapter Arts Centre, Tour of Wales     2015

Organisations:
Theatr Gwalia

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Drama (Observational Comedy) Full Length

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  5            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Barud Coch - The Kite

Synopsis:
The Barcud Coch, Red Kite comes to visit a woman in the woods. A play about Chaos Extinction and Metamorphosis, part of a forth coming trilogy

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Chapter Arts Centre     2017

Organisations:
Theatr Gwalia

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Drama Full Length

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Bread and Butter in the Gutter

Synopsis:
Script Slam Winner. 'After the Party' A young woman goes on a hen night in Swansea Wind Street. The next day she wakes up with a hangover and the realisation she is getting divorced.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Sherman Cymru     2011

Organisations:
Theatr 1.618

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Comedy Short

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Capable Man, A

Synopsis:
A play in development about Men and Heroes.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Seed Commission, National Theatre of Wales     2015

Organisations:
Theatr Gwalia

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Drama site Specific Full Length

Parts:
Male:  10            Female:  5            Other:  chorus

Further Reference:
-

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Collection of Shorts about Native American Racism

Synopsis:
A collection of one character plays exploring the inequality that is still being experienced by indigenous people

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
The Other Room, Cardiff     2016

Organisations:
Theatr Gwalia

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Drama Short

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Coombe, The

Synopsis:
Sisters together in the Coombe live hand to mouth, keeping the wolf at the door. A stranger arrives, she sets them on a lonely path of who to trust and who not to.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Coleg Pen y Bont     2013

Organisations:
Theatr 1.618 Theatre

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Supernatural Full Length

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  5            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Four Brothers

Synopsis:
Based on the writers Grandfathers memoirs about his time during the 2nd world war in Bomber Command and flying the Lancaster. Is War the answer?

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Carnegie House     2016

Organisations:
Theatr Gwalia

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Drama Full Length

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Hippy Doo Doo

Synopsis:
A hippy tries to do good and work in an African Charity

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Chapter Arts Centre     2011

Organisations:
1.618@Chapter

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Comedy Drama Short

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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I am a mother

Synopsis:
A mother tries to understand her circumstance and that she lives in a country that is corrupt

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Chapter Arts Centre     2011

Organisations:
Theatr 1.618

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Drama Short

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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I am from a country

Synopsis:
Short Play, A child explores the horrors of hunger and war in her home.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Chapter Arts Centre     2011

Organisations:
Theatr 1.618 Theatre

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Drama Short

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Ice Cream on a Hot Day

Synopsis:
A short play based on a real life experience of living in Africa

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Children of Africa @ Chapter Arts     2011

Organisations:
Theatr 1.618 Theatre

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Drama Short

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Made in Britain

Synopsis:
The riots of 2011 provide a backdrop for a middle class family. A play that rips up the rules. Multi Media

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Chapter Arts Centre & Tour of Wales     2014

Organisations:
Theatr Gwalia

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Drama Full Length

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Miners

Synopsis:
a short exploring the impact of one of the worst mining disasters Wales ever experienced

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Aberdare, National Theatre of Wales     2013

Organisations:
Dirty Protest

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Drama Short

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Powder Blue / Pili Pala

Synopsis:
The Butterfly collector. A play about Chaos Extinction and Metamorphosis, part of a forth coming trilogy

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-     2017

Organisations:
Theatr Gwalia

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Drama Full length

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Priodferch Utah

Synopsis:
A Welsh Language translation and adaptation by Sharon Morgan and Carmen Medway-Stephens. A girl . Alice, from that forgotten period when the Valley's were left licking their wounds from the Thatcher Fallout. We meet Alice, who sees no future in her dying valley. A Mormon Missionary from Utah knocks her door and changes her life forever. She runs away to live her American Dream. Set on the night she returns from Utah after being away from home for several years she confronts her Welsh Matriarchal Chapel Mother.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Chapter Arts Centre     2014

Organisations:
Theat1.618/Theatr Gwalia

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Drama Full Length

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Real Valleys, The

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
part of : Welsh writers are coming together for one night of explosive theatre reacting to MTV's the Valleys. the seven Valleys writers have each been commissioned by theatre company Dirty Protest to write a series of new short plays based on their hometowns.

1st Produced:
Bunkhouse, Cardiff     25 Oct 2012

Organisations:
Dirty Protest

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
short play

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Riders To the Storm

Synopsis:
A group of women wait for their sailor fishermen husbands to return from a storm

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Coleg Rhondda     2007

Organisations:
Theatr 1.618 Theatre

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Supernatural Full Length

Parts:
Male:  5            Female:  5            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Sands

Synopsis:
A short about the Sands of Africa

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Children of Africa @ Chapter Arts     2011

Organisations:
Theatr 1.618 Theatre

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Drama Short

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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'Tan' 'Fire'

Synopsis:
A script in hand reading of a new play. A Welsh Girl and Wampanoag Boy meet on line. Through their differences they come to realise that their worlds are not so different. Together they reclaim their language and the land while trying to make sense of who they are. Will they become the people they are meant to be? By reclaiming their stories they discover their true identities.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Chapter Arts Centre Cardiff     2016

Organisations:
Theatr Gwalia

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Drama Full Length

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Tea for Two

Synopsis:
Three children deal with the fall out of the Bosnian War and the impact on their friendship

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Script in Hand @ Chapter Arts     2010

Organisations:
Theatr 1.618 Theatre

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Drama Full Length

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Tegid Gwyniad

Synopsis:
There's a lady in the lake. She tells us how to survive in a dog eat dog world.

Notes:
A play about Chaos Extinction and Metamorphosis, part of a forth coming trilogy

1st Produced:
-     2017

Organisations:
Theatr Gwalia

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Drama Full Length

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Tynton Farm

Synopsis:
Rich City Folk try to buy an historical farm in Wales that was the birth place of Dr. Richard Price

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Cardiff Fringe Event     2014

Organisations:
Dirty Protest

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Comedy Short

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Utah Bride, The

Synopsis:
A daughter runs away with her Mormon missionary in Post Thatcher South Wales Valley. She returns four years later, her American dream in tatters.

Notes:
the Utah Bride is A first full length play for 1.618. the writer will receive A mentorship leading to A intensive week where the Director/Actors And Writer will explore the text for A script in hand two hander performance over two nights.

1st Produced:

Organisations:
Theat1.618/Theatr Gwalia

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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War - What is it good for?

Synopsis:
A devised performance, through song, dance and spoken word we explore the complexities of war

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Etcetera Theatre London     2010

Organisations:
1.618 Theatr

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Drama Full length

Parts:
Male:  5            Female:  5            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Zanzibar and Cappuccino Babies

Synopsis:
A girl takes a gap year in Africa

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Chapter Arts Centre     2011

Organisations:
Children of Africa 1.Theatr 1.618 @Chapter

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Comedy Short

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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