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Circus Entertainment and Workshops
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Works In Development
Plans are underway for Sky Works' next show, set to be an exploration of womens' experience of abortion. The Abortion Show is to be a physical theatre show which incorporates acrobatics, Auslan sign language, hula hoops, a strong narrative and symbolic presentation. "The Abortion Show" is only a working title for now - it is anticipated a title will be decided upon during the creative development process.
Show duration will be approximately one hour and it will be designed to be performed in theatres with a modest sized stage and minimal special requirements.
Overview and Context
There is much controversy in the media and general society surrounding abortion. It is a taboo topic which usually inspires heated debate about whether a woman's right to choose should have priority over the life of a baby carried within her belly. In this debate, the women themselves are often forgotten. Abortion is never something a woman wants to do - it is a choice she makes when presented with two unwanted options, both of which may send shivers down her spine.
The Abortion Show looks at the real story for the women who choose it - the agonising decision they must make and how they learn to live with what they have done in a society that is essentially unsupportive. Some women appear to be truly unaffected by abortions they may have had; other women are not outwardly traumatised but live a limited and chaotic life (like that of survivors of sexual abuse) until they finally face what they have done; and still other women are tormented by grief at the knowledge that they have killed their own child, and yet they still don't know how they could have managed, had they chosen to bring the child into the world. The Abortion Show follows the story of Ellie, an intelligent and inspired twenty-one year old, whose experience fits into the latter category.
The aim of The Abortion Show is to stimulate audiences into thinking about the issue of abortion in a manner other than the black and white portrayal given by the media. It is not simply a matter of whether women should have the right to choose, and whether a baby that has been conceived should have the right to live. It is a deeply complex issue which affects millions of women world-wide, and yet is rarely spoken of or considered in a compassionate sense. The Abortion Show breaks the silence.
Synopsis
Ellie is an intelligent and inspired twenty-one year old when contraception fails her and she becomes pregnant to her boyfriend. Her career is taking off, she is not ready for long term commitment to her boyfriend, and abortion is presented to her as a simple solution, one she won't regret if she feels committed to it and is not pushed into it. With much agonising, Ellie eventually decides an abortion is the answer. The procedure itself, under a general anaesthetic, feels instantaneous - so much so that she is left doubting that it ever really happened.
Ellie is waiting for her life to go back to how it was before, but finds, against her will, that her body seems determined to prepare for a baby that no longer exists. She catches herself planning how to care for the impending baby, how to tell family and friends about her pregnancy, and her hand repeatedly strays to her belly to see if it has grown yet. Her life seems to split into two simultaneous channels - in one it is as though she was still pregnant, she cannot help but track how far along she would be, mull over names that she likes, envision herself with a baby in her arms. The other channel is the cold hard reality of her life. Her relationship with her boyfriend flounders as he is unable to understand why she doesn't just accept that the abortion has occurred, and get on with her life. Her career suffers as she falls into a disoriented grief, and she seeks therapy to help her come to terms with the fact that her belly is gnawingly empty and flat. Her therapist encourages her grieve actively for her baby, give it a name, say goodbye to it as one might at a funeral.
The climax of the show is the night Ellie's baby would have been due. She dreams she is in labour, and she finally meets her child, a girl, plays with her in wonder and amazement. And then the dream turns to a nightmare, as the stage is overwhelmed with wind and the abortion surgeon from the hospital appears to take away the baby. The scene builds to a strenuous fight, as Ellie struggles to protect her daughter, the doctor clamours for the child. The young girl tries desperately to escape from him, begging her mother to protect her. Eventually the doctor tears the child from Ellie and runs from the stage with her. Ellie is left in bed, awake and devastated, but finally ready to initiate her ceremony in which she says goodbye to her child, her pregnancy, and turns to face the rest of her life.
Timeline
It is inteded that The Abortion Show will be in creative development for the first half of 2004, culminating in a Work In Progress showing, during which audience feedback will be obtained. 2005 will see the launch of Melbourne's premiere season of the show, followed by national and international tours the following year.
Click here to register your interest in attending the Work In Progress showing, or to tell us your thoughts on this proposed performance idea.