MUST - The Inside Story

Synopsis

Journey through the hills and valleys of one woman’s body Adventure across the melting ice caps and the thirsty deserts. Must is a poetic look at what it feels like to have a body. It excavates the memories and images contained in the joints and layers of bone. Inspired by images from Gulliver’s Travels, Hildegarde von Bingen, The Elephant Man and everyday experiences of the medical profession, Must takes a hard stare at the medical gaze and the assumptions people make about each others bodies.

Our Review:

26 May 2010

New York based performer and co-founder of the Split Britches Theatre Company, Peggy Shaw, has brought her latest show to Manchester as part of the Queer Up North International Festival.

Shaw is renowned for her gender-bending autobiographical work and MUST – The Inside Story continues that trend. It is a monologue about her life, from her mother's electro-shock treatment in the 50s, through giving birth on her way to the Woodstock Festival in 1969, to living now as a 65 year old lesbian grandmother.

Shaw paints images of her existence through her words, which are at times enhanced by the projected backdrop of photographs of the body; or for one part, a short animation. She opens the lid on thoughts which most people would not give voice to. Shaw partially strips to allow the anatomical imagery to be projected onto her own body as well, using this to increase the graphic nature of the scene.

The starkness of h...

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