Tonight, the infamous monologues return to the stage under Theatre Paradok’s keen eye.
A sold-out two-night bonanza, the show epitomizes all that Paradok has to offer. Directors and committee members Philippa Iles and Abrisham Ahmadzadeh have strived to pull together a heartwarming, insightful and tactful production, with 15 women and 17 monologues.
They will be performing, excitingly, at Cabaret Voltaire in the atmospheric vaults. be prepared to be blown away.
The show will also be hosting a panel discussion after Friday night’s show:
“In an attempt to tackle some aspects of the script that have made Philippa and I, and of course our wonderful cast, feel slightly uncomfortable, we have pulled together some experts to discuss. Two representatives from Edinburgh’s Spit It Out project will be on the panel, as well as a UoE PhD student specializing in gender-based violence, and a Glasgow based dramaturg dedicated to showcasing queer voices.
We’re going to follow on from the show’s main themes, and discuss what is happening now. Ensler compiled the monologues in 1996, which is a whopping 24 years ago. Weinstein was still the king of Hollywood back then. We’ve come far in a new wave of call-out culture and fluid inclusion, and I reckon this script needs to be brought into the 20th-century rhetoric around gender and sexuality.
We hope to showcase a work of art of who’s flaws we are hyper-aware, in a tasteful and respectful way. We have, to the best of our ability, tried to educate ourselves throughout the process, but this is a long journey! The Monologues will be back, bigger and better every year, and we hope that space continues to be made for female voices on the Edinburgh stage, no matter genitalia.
Thank you to all the wonderful people who have bought tickets. We hope you enjoy the ride. If at any point it gets too much, there will be committee members around if you need a chat, but do feel free to leave. Unfortunately, the venue isn’t wheelchair accessible. There are gender-neutral toilets on the ground floor, by the entrance.
Enjoy, and we’ll see you on the other side.”
Abrisham Ahmadzadeh
Artwork by the wonderful Frannie Wise @franniedrawsthings