Showwomen comes to The Lowry

March 2024

Showwomen comes to The Lowry

Winner of the ONCA Green Curtain Award at the Brighton Fringe

FEATURING: A queer cast Marisa Carnesky, Fancy Chance, Livia Alour And Lucifire

SHOWWOMEN is a spectacular new stage show from Olivier award-winning performance maker Marisa Carnesky (creator of Carnesky’s Ghost Train, the live ride that enjoyed a five-year run on the Blackpool Promenade), SHOWWOMEN is a feminist rewrite: The untold herstory of British working-class entertainment from immigrant, queer and occult perspectives.

Devised in collaboration with hair hanger/comedienne Fancy Chance, sword and spoken word artist Livia Kojo Alour and physical and fire performer Lucifire, SHOWWOMEN interweaves 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. SHOWWOMEN asks why and how women perform dangerous and taboo acts and explores the legacy of forgotten and marginalised diverse British entertainers.

Based on Carnesky’s research as a fellow at The National Fairground and Circus Archive in the University of Sheffield, Marisa discovered the extraordinary stories of 1930’s pioneer clown Lulu Adams, 1940’s body magic star Koringa, 1950s sharpshooter Florence Shufflebottom and 1880’s teeth hanging aerialist superstar Miss La La in an exploration of lesser-known stories of extraordinary women in variety performance from a century ago and beyond. SHOWWOMEN compares them to the lived experiences of exceptional performers today. 

"These skills, and the women who have performed them, deserve their time centre stage".

The Guardian (preview on Showwomen,)

Photo credit Sarah Hickson

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Published: 24-Feb-2024: (7395)