Performing Endometriosis as placental dramaturgy.

Abstract

Performing Endometriosis is an autopathographic piece, written and performed by VR and directed by MM (coauthors of the present article). Divided into very short scenes (called Glimpses), Performing Endometriosis is a solo work about VR's lived experience of stage 4 endometriosis, where audiences are invited to encounter some key moments in her chronic illness journey. Most often experienced by women, endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus appears elsewhere in the body, becoming entrapped and finding no bodily exit. One of the uterus' healthy functions (if pregnancy occurs) is developing placenta, a disc of tissue that, among other things, provides nourishment to new life and is spontaneously delivered once it has performed its function. Departing from the ambivalently proliferative character of uteri and looking at feminist theory, feminist pedagogy in theatre training and the medical and health humanities, this article discusses the methodology used during the creative process of Performing Endometriosis, that is, placental dramaturgy. Originally developed towards performance-making, placental dramaturgy is a creative process characterised by a co-nurturing yet independent sense of collaboration. This article unpacks 'placental dramaturgy' with the aim of its replication in other feminist creative processes towards the making and delivering of performance.