Books laid bare as naked ladies take to the stage
A cabaret show featuring naked women reading literature aims to break down the sexualisation of women in mainstream media, according to the show’s organiser.
The cabaret performance at Ghost Light Theatre in Nelson features Nelson women Hazel Trethowen and Stella St. Lune as well as physical theatre practitioner Sabrina Martin from Wel- lington naked.
The show is produced and MC’d by Wellington woman Gen Fowler.
Fowler said the original show started in Chicago about nine years ago. She thought it was the best thing she had ever heard of when a friend told her about it.
She said she started running the New Zealand version, Naked Girls - all three completely Reading, two years ago.
‘‘I think we run it more like a comedy show.
‘‘Perhaps a bit louder and a bit more focused on the women themselves and their stories, than on literature.’’
Each of the women do a selection of short readings, including bits from children’s books, poetry, fan fiction and comedy.
The Nelson show is themed ‘‘smut’’, which Fowler said meant ‘‘all things taboo, slutty, sadistic and radical’’.
‘People often come into it thinking it’s going to be a very glamorous and traditionally sexy affair, and they’re not wrong, but we’re also going to yell about feminism and our feelings for 90 minutes.’’
Fowler said she got asked a lot why the women had to be naked while reading out loud.
‘‘The aim with the show is to reconnect the naked female form with the intellect and personalities which are in them.’’
Naked Girls Reading is on at Ghost Light Theatre on February 8 at 8pm. Pre-sale tickets are $20 and available through eventfinda.co.nz.
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