Actresses with Down syndrome: Maja Kowalczyk and Aleksandra Skotarek play the role of Marilyn Monroe. This American icon of pop culture is still perceived as a symbol of femininity, liberated sexuality and one of the most recognizable and appreciated actresses in the world. The artists enter into a game with the figure of Monroe. In their artistic work they explore how the disabled body is perceived in society and they confront taboos about disability.
performed by: Maja Kowalczyk, Aleksandra Skotarek
screenplay: based on texts by Maja Kowalczyk and Aleksandra Skotarek inspired by Marilyn Monroe’s diary
directors: Justyna Wielgus, Justyna Lipko-Konieczna
costumes: Wisła Nicieja
cinematography: Wojciech Kaniewski, Ania Hatłas
editing, subtitles: Wojciech Kaniewski
The performance “Body to Body with Marilyn” was commissioned by Saša Asentić within the project “DIS- is not included”. The event was funded by the Department for Culture and Europe of the Senate of the City of Berlin. It premiered in February 2021 at Sophiensæle in Berlin.
“In the video performance “Body to Body with Marilyn”, Teatr 21 actresses Maja Kowalczyk and Aleksandra Skotarek play the role of Marilyn Monroe. This American icon of pop culture is still perceived as a symbol of femininity, liberated sexuality and one of the most recognizable and appreciated actresses in the world.
Reading her diaries reveals the image of a very conscious artist, who explores acting techniques, a poetess and an intellectual, which seemingly does not fit the image of a sexpot. And is there room in this image for illness or disability?
The gesture of using the figure of Marilyn Monroe by the actresses of Teatr 21 is a play on the ideas and expectations of the audience connected with the perception of femininity, acting and sexuality of people with disabilities.
The artists enter into a game with the figure of Monroe. In their artistic work they explore how the disabled body is perceived in society. What are the boundaries between norm and non-normativity, human and non-human, masculinity and femininity? The actors use manifestos and theatrical means to confront taboos about disability.
Teatr 21 (Warsaw, Poland) is a theater company whose actors are mainly people with Down syndrome and autism. During the 16 years of its activity, the group has created more than a dozen plays, presented in theaters and institutions all over Poland. Teatr 21 is also engaged in education, publishing, and works in international networks. Teatr 21 is working on a project of the Centre for Inclusive Arts – social institution of culture entirely dedicated to the work of artists with disabilities.
The Segal Center Film Festival on Theatre and Performance (FTP) is an annual event showcasing films drawn from the world of theatre and performance. The festival presents experimental, emerging, and established theatre artists and filmmakers from around the world to audiences and industry professionals.
The Segal Film Festival on Theatre and Performance (FTP) is produced by the Martin E. Segal Theatre Center under the Graduate Centre at the City Univerity of New York (CUNY), Executive Director Frank Hentschker
Co- Curated by Frank Hentschker, Andie Lerner, and Tanvi Shah.
Festival Coordination by Bukola John Omokore
Web Design by Gaurav Singh Nijjer
Digital Marketing by Cactus Juice
Intro/Outro Theme credit: Second Sight (India) courtesy Anusha Ramasubramoney and Pushkar Srivatsal.