Cherry draws on over three hundred real testimonials from ordinary people that have been collected by Loose Cannon Theatre over the last year and distilled into six voices each exploring a different aspect of this 21st Century taboo.
After a sell-out run in London earlier this month, our actors have been privileged to gain access to so many individual accounts of virginity and far too many began with phrases such as: “I’ve never told anyone this before”. It’s time to start talking about virginity and that’s what we intend to do.
Using voices from within the LGBTQ+ and disabled communities, from online forums, and from people with radically different cultural and religious backgrounds, the show weaves a myriad of perspectives together using innovative and highly physical staging to explore the rich tapestry of society’s attitudes to this sexual inauguration.
Using voices from within the LGBTQ+ and disabled communities, from online forums, and from people with radically different cultural and religious backgrounds, the show weaves a myriad of perspectives together using innovative and highly physical staging to explore the rich tapestry of society’s attitudes to this sexual inauguration.
Cherry can be seen at The Space @ Venue 45 on 63 Jeffrey Street, Edinburgh EH1 1DH. It can be seen every night between Wednesday August 9th and Saturday August 26th (times: August 9-13 22.25pm; August 14-19 23.25pm; and August 20-26 22.25pm)
What was the inspiration for this performance?
Cutbacks in state funded sexual education have meant that many young people are finding out about sex for the first time from online porn and Chinese whispers. Cherry aims to address this dearth of discussion by speaking plainly and openly about sex and sexuality on stage. These are deeply personal performances. The theatre group has been privileged to gain access to so many individual accounts of virginity and far too many began with phrases such as: “I’ve never told anyone this before”. It’s time to start talking about virginity and that’s what we intend to do.
Is performance still a good space for the public discussion of ideas?
The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is an epicentre of candidness. People from around the world from a wide variety of backgrounds come together to discuss the ‘un-discussable’ through theatre, and what better place to bring Cherry! Performing verbatim theatre literally brings voices to the unheard, and publicly and unabashedly brings the discussion of taboo subjects such as virginity to the forefront.
How did you become interested in making performance?
Myself (Anna Wyn, the Producer) and the three other creators of Loose Cannon Theatre, met at The University of Bristol. Two English Students, one Psychology students and one Liberal Arts student. Having performed at The Fringe over many years with other companies, we decided to come together as a collective. We all became fascinating with Verbatim Theatre, and realised that it was the best way to speak plainly through performance about Virginity.
Is there any particular approach to the making of the show?
Drawing from over 300 anonymous written submissions and verbatim interviews as well as material from popular media and online forums, ‘Cherry’ explores how "losing your virginity" has become so much more than simply having sex for the first time. In its retelling of real experiences both shocking and hilarious, 'Cherry' takes an honest look at a social construct that needs some serious rethinking.
Does the show fit with your usual productions?
This is our premier show! We came together last year with one aim in mind, to put on a verbatim show about virginity. To go down to the nitty gritty We had a sell-out run in London in July, and the feedback was incredible.
What do you hope that the audience will experience?
We hope to hear people in the audience honestly talking about their first times, honestly talking about their experiences upon waling out. We hope to hear people feel that their thoughts, grievances, worries have been voiced on stage. We hope for them to submit their stories at the beginning of our show, and hope that they find a relief in writing their experiences down on paper for them to be heard in our next show. We well and truly want our audience to find solace in the fact that we’re all thinking the same thing, why does nobody talk about it?
Cutbacks in state funded sexual education have meant that many young people are finding out about sex for the first time from online porn and Chinese whispers. Cherry aims to address this dearth of discussion by speaking plainly and openly about sex and sexuality on stage. These are deeply personal performances. The theatre group has been privileged to gain access to so many individual accounts of virginity and far too many began with phrases such as: “I’ve never told anyone this before”. It’s time to start talking about virginity and that’s what we intend to do.
Is performance still a good space for the public discussion of ideas?
The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is an epicentre of candidness. People from around the world from a wide variety of backgrounds come together to discuss the ‘un-discussable’ through theatre, and what better place to bring Cherry! Performing verbatim theatre literally brings voices to the unheard, and publicly and unabashedly brings the discussion of taboo subjects such as virginity to the forefront.
How did you become interested in making performance?
Myself (Anna Wyn, the Producer) and the three other creators of Loose Cannon Theatre, met at The University of Bristol. Two English Students, one Psychology students and one Liberal Arts student. Having performed at The Fringe over many years with other companies, we decided to come together as a collective. We all became fascinating with Verbatim Theatre, and realised that it was the best way to speak plainly through performance about Virginity.
Is there any particular approach to the making of the show?
Drawing from over 300 anonymous written submissions and verbatim interviews as well as material from popular media and online forums, ‘Cherry’ explores how "losing your virginity" has become so much more than simply having sex for the first time. In its retelling of real experiences both shocking and hilarious, 'Cherry' takes an honest look at a social construct that needs some serious rethinking.
Does the show fit with your usual productions?
This is our premier show! We came together last year with one aim in mind, to put on a verbatim show about virginity. To go down to the nitty gritty We had a sell-out run in London in July, and the feedback was incredible.
What do you hope that the audience will experience?
We hope to hear people in the audience honestly talking about their first times, honestly talking about their experiences upon waling out. We hope to hear people feel that their thoughts, grievances, worries have been voiced on stage. We hope for them to submit their stories at the beginning of our show, and hope that they find a relief in writing their experiences down on paper for them to be heard in our next show. We well and truly want our audience to find solace in the fact that we’re all thinking the same thing, why does nobody talk about it?
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