At the end of a 25 date UK tour, the fast, fun multimedia theatre show Nine Sixteenths, inspired by the media rise, fall and rise again of Janet Jackson, is set for a run at Brixton House 19-30 May (press night 21 May)
At the 2004 Superbowl, Justin Timberlake exposed Janet Jackson’s breast and nipple to a huge live TV audience for nine sixteenths of a second. This brief moment derailed Jackson’s career for many years, while Timberlake’s thrived.
Nine Sixteenths unpacks the rise, fall and rise again of global pop superstar Jackson, and what this has to say about how black women are treated by the media. Created by artist/theatre-maker Paula Varjack, it explores coming of age in the 1990s and how hugely influential Jackson was, especially for young black women. It’s fast, fun and hugely entertaining – the venue and audience are transported to a world of stadium concerts and TV studios. It takes the audience on a journey, exploring themes of representation and pop culture with a nostalgia for the early 00’s, and the hopes and dreams of four black female performers through a visual variety of devised theatre, dance and lip sync.
‘endlessly entertaining … authentic, eye opening and funny’ Left Lion, Nottingham
Press night is Thursday 21 May at 7.30pm. contact Steve Forster as above for tickets.
It amply demonstrates how Jackson helped shape our contemporary cultural landscape, paving the way for artists such as Britney Spears, Beyoncé, and Rihanna – and shows how a struggling video-sharing site called YouTube started to attract clicks when it became the place to rewatch the incident!
The tour took in cities including Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Leicester, Brighton, Nottingham, Oxford and many more.
‘a show that makes you look at society with sharper eyes’ Maddy Costa, Exeunt
Paula said ‘Janet Jackson was a tremendous icon to me at a time when I had relatively few black female artists to look to. She was a game changer in so many ways – and did it on her terms. After her ‘wardrobe malfunction’ the music industry let her down, in ways so effective that many thought her career faded away. Yet she kept working, making music and films. Now, finally, the injustice of what happened is being recognised. In the end, it’s the art that matters. As an iconic role model for many black women, and an outspoken ally for the lgbtqI+ community she made great art. The show also looks at why role models matter and the lack of older female role models of colour and the role that (largely) white male media executives play in deciding who thrives in mainstream pop culture’.
‘allows for the reclamation of the pride and power that Jackson held’ The Reviews Hub
Who was invested in the backlash, and became obsessed with blocking Jackson’s success? Who joked over her humiliation? How have all those involved profited since?
‘a fast, fun multimedia look at iconic black female role models’ A Youngish Perspective
All dates feature British Sign Language by Jacqui Beckford and Vinessa Brant as an integral part of the production.
Paula is an entertaining, erudite, witty and incisive interviewee. Contact Steve Forster as above for availabilities, review tickets and images. Images can also be downloaded via www.sfppr.co.uk/downloads/
Nine Sixteenths is directed by Evening Standard Future Theatre Award Winner, RTST Peter Hall Award Shortlisted and twice JMK Award Shortlisted Emily Aboud. It features a cast of four black 40+ women. Joining Paula are Pauline Mayers (also Movement Director); acclaimed Copenhagen based choreographer Julienne Doko ; RSC and National Theatre performer, writer, director and creative arts activist/therapist/practitioner Chia Phoenix. Devised by the cast and Endy McKay. Sound design is by Alicia Jane Turner who has been commissioned by the London Philharmonia Orchestra, the London Sinfonietta, Spitalfields Music and National Sawdust (New York).
‘Endurance is my heritage, as a woman, and especially a black woman. I’m convinced that we black women possess a special, indestructible strength that allows us to not only get down but to get up, to get through and to get over’
Janet Jackson receiving the Soul Train award for Outstanding Career Achievement, March 2004
London listings info
Nine Sixteenths
Inspired by Janet Jackson, created by Paula Varjack, a fast, fun, multimedia examination of iconic black female role models featuring the rise, fall and rise again of Janet Jackson.
‘not to be missed… its authenticity and intimacy make it truly worth experiencing’ Theatre&Tonic
Runs 80 mins. Age 14+ (advisory) Integrated BSL is part of this production.
19-23 May, 27-30 May 7.30pm. Also 2.30pm matinees on 23 and 30 May
Brixton House 385 Coldharbour Lane, London SW9 8GL
Tickets from £18 https://brixtonhouse.co.uk 020 7582 7680