A new show from Olivier award-winning performance maker Marisa Carnesky, SHOWWOMEN is a feminist rewrite: The untold herstory of British working-class entertainment from immigrant, queer, activist and occult perspectives.
1940’s body magic star Koringa, 1930’s pioneer clown Lulu Adams 1920s female dare-devil Marjorie Dare and 1880’s teeth hanging aerialist superstar Miss La La have inspired an exploration of lesser-known stories of extraordinary women in variety performance from a century ago. SHOWWOMEN compares them to the lived experiences of exceptional performers today.
Marisa Carnesky narrates and performs alongside guest stars hair hanger/comedienne Fancy Chance, sword and spoken word artist Livia Kojo Alour and physical and fire performer Lucifire, interweaving live action, in-depth interviews and archival footage to create a dreamlike landscape mixing death defying stunts, strange and emotive acts, political resistance and secret backstage rituals. The show asks why and how women perform dangerous and taboo acts and explores the legacy of forgotten and marginalised diverse British entertainers.
Expect witchy collective going-ons in full leopard print, naked crocodile women scaling walls, ladders of swords, live hair hanging, never ending pom poms and ectoplasmic clowns, SHOWWOMEN channels entertainment heritage to create visons of new matriarchal performance futures.
“I am not the greatest Showman. Because I am not a man. I am not a showboy and I am no longer a showgirl. What am I now? I am a Showwoman, with two Ws in the middle, one for the show and one for the woman”. (Marisa Carnesky, 2022)
23 years ago, Marisa created the taboo-breaking work Jewess Tattooess that went on to tour the world. Featuring a specially commissioned soundtrack by James Johnston (Gallon Drunk, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, PJ Harvey) Kath Warg (Snowpony, Stereolab) and Dave Knight (Danielle Dax, Lydia Lunch, Unicazurn). 23 years later she is recommissioning them to create a brand-new soundscape for SHOWWOMEN.
SHOWWOMEN Tour Dates:
May 17 & 18 Cambridge Junction 7.30pm
May 20 & 21 Norwich Arts Centre 8.00pm
May 27 & 28 Attenborough Centre For Creative Arts, (ACCA) Brighton 8.00pm Tickets on sale soon
June 8 Colchester Arts Centre 8.00pm
June 16, 17 & 18 Jacksons Lane, London 7.30pm
