EDINBURGH 2017: BWW Q&A- Sara Juli

So. Tell us about... your tense vagina.

My tense vagina is feeling MUCH better. Thank you for asking.

Tense Vagina: an actual diagnosis is a comedic solo performance about motherhood that will make you laugh so hard you'll pee in your pants - and then learn about how to fix your urinary incontinence!

This is not a classical motherhood dance that pulls from traditional themes around the beauty of being a mother, but rather focuses on the parts of motherhood that are taboo and therefore NOT discussed such as: loss of bladder control, the copious tears, extreme loneliness, and the monotony to name a few. As I share my experiences raising two children - using abstract movement, sounds, songs, audience interaction and a "garden of dildos" - this piece ultimately connects with anyone who has a mother. The narrative is anchored in sharing the physical therapy I received at The Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation Center of New England as I shed light and humor on my treatment of post-childbirth urinary incontinence.

What was the inspiration behind the show?

My work has always been about sharing personal stories with the public. These stories run concurrently with my life. They are my outlet for how I deal with problems that keep me up at night, but that simultaneously connect me to the rest of the planet. Anything that is plaguing me is bothering millions of others at any given time. Tense Vagina: an actual diagnosis addresses the next chapter in my life: being a mother to two young kids: the sacrifice, the adoration, the fact that your body and mind take a real toll in private. The piece pretty much wrote itself, in my small NY City apartment, when I was attached to a hospital-grade breast pump and couldn't move.

Why bring it to Edinburgh?

The opportunity to build international connections is too good to pass-up. I'm interested in meeting presenters, artists and audiences from around the world and swapping contact info.

Who would you recommend comes to see it?

Anyone who has ever been a mother or has one.

Are there any other shows you're hoping to catch at the festival?

Manuel Cinema and Fleabag to name two. I'm also hoping to bring my kids to Trash Test Dummies.

Timings and ticket information for Tense Vagina: An Actual Diagnosis are available on the edfringe website.

Photo Credit: Kristofer Alan Thompson

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