Following a host of successful runs at Soho Theatre, Underbelly, South Bank, Edinburgh and Adelaide Fringes, Dr Carnesky’s Incredible Bleeding Woman goes on a magical, mystery road trip this autumn. Pitching up at venues across the UK, dates include a residency at Attenborough Centre For The Creative Arts in Brighton plus a welcome return to Soho Theatre.
Putting the magic back into menstruation, showwoman and artist Dr Marisa Carnesky breaks the last unmentionable taboo in order to reinvent menstrual rituals for a new era. Drawing on the hidden power of a forgotten matriarchal past this all-out genre bending spectacular features a diverse cast including legendary hair hanger Fancy Chance, (Former winner of Alternative Miss World). Delivered with tongue in cheek reverence, this newly evolved version of the show embodies a live art/cabaret crossover – mutating between a bizarre anthropology lecture to a magic stage show, to a feminist, activist ritual.
Referencing representations of women and blood from ancient mythology to classic horror movies, menstruation takes centre stage in a profound exploration of what it means to be ‘female’. Issues around fertility, body shame and lost ancient herstories are scrutinised, politicised & reclaimed. With a potent brew of surrealism horror and parody, Dr Carnesky presents menstrual rituals utilising all manner of skills, tricks and props and an unstoppable flow of sheer heart and soul.
Marisa Carnesky assembled a group known as The Menstruants to devise ritual performances by meeting every dark moon at Metal in Southend over the course of three months. Through a process of performance-making, spell-casting, dream diaries and cathartic sharing, a performance work was created embodying diverse lived experiences of menstruation. From pain to fertility, miscarriage, transgender identity, menopause and religious ritual.
Marisa Carnesky is the Creative Director of Carnesky Productions. Previous projects include Carnesky’s Ghost Train (2004-2014) and alternative stage school Carnesky’s Finishing School. Carnesky Productions is interested in the use of spectacle, magic illusions and grand ritual as a means of creating highly accessible provocative work rooted in popular culture to promote cultural and political discourse.
Dr Carnesky’s Incredible Bleeding Woman is the result of Marisa Carnesky’s Incredible Bleeding Woman research project which she completed as part of a PhD at Middlesex University.
Tour Dates
26 October 8pm: Lancaster Arts, Lancaster – Lancaster University
1-2 November 8pm: Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts, Brighton – University of Sussex
9th November: 8pm Drama Studio – University of Sheffield
14 November: 8pm Colchester Arts Centre
15 November: 8pm Norwich Arts Centre
19-24 November: Soho Theatre, London
