Nude

In one sentence: a one woman show sharing the songs and stories behind one of the greatest sex symbols, Marilyn Monroe.

How did it come about?

This was really the first show I wrote that I also directed. It came about because my friend Carina had the idea of doing a Marilyn Monroe show, but wasn’t sure where to start. I wanted to write something but wasn’t sure what. So we talked endlessly and then I got to work writing a one-woman show that depicted the layers of embodiment when transforming into a role - specifically here, the ‘role’ that is Marilyn Monroe. Norma Jean indeed created this role for herself and in the show we explored the notion of performativity as it relates to sexuality and feminine identity. 

The aim was to offer the audience an insight into what it takes to become this iconic role and the suffering and trauma that was behind the persona of one of the 20th century’s most iconic sex symbols. The actor started with a blank canvas - no make up, hair in pin curls and gradually transformed into Marilyn Monroe as she told us the stories and sung the songs from Marilyn’s short career. I wanted to humanise this woman’s story, so the moment of nudity that got media attention, was actually a moment of complete vulnerability and human suffering, rather than having any connotation of sexuality that Monroe’s name is synonymous with.

“The writing by Kirchert is excellent, intelligent, engaging, fluid, almost academically philosophical prose" — Theatrepeople

Show info

Premiered at the Melbourne Cabaret Festival 2014 at Chapel Off Chapel and further developed for presentation at the Alex Theatre St Kilda in 2015. Credits below are the 2015 production.

Written and directed by: Jayde Kirchert
Music Director: Trevor Jones
Set and Costume Designer: Marc McIntyre
Lighting Designer: Peter Amesbury
Stage Manager: Vicky Heilbron
Cast: Carina Waye

For more images, videos and info visit the Citizen Theatre website.

Image credit Thomas Overend