Orlando: A Pornobiography
Research Events, Theatre-Making Masterclasses,
and a New Performance from piss / CARNATION
Fridays 2nd, 9th, 16th & 23rd May 2025
Faculty of English, West Road, Cambridge, CB3 9DP
With the support of the Judith E Wilson Fund, the multi-award-winning trans theatre collective piss/CARNATION (52 Monologues for Young Transsexuals and Ugly Sisters) are returning to Cambridge to develop their new show, Orlando: A Pornobiography – a raucous reimagining of Woolf’s novel from a trans-femme perspective, that uses live cinema and augmented reality techniques to explore the mediation of the trans-feminine body on stage, on screen, and online.
As part of their residency, Charli Cowgill and Laurie Ward will be participating in a series of in-conversation events with leading academics on topics including trans feminism, trans pornography, and the adaptation process, and hosting a series of practical masterclasses on trans theatre and performance-making. These events will be organized and facilitated by Dr Lloyd Meadhbh Houston, who will be serving as a dramaturg and academic consultant on the show.
These events are intended to be informative, accessible, and informal, and are open to the public, with members of the local trans and queer community particularly welcome to attend.
‘In-conversation’ Seminars: GR06/07 from 5 – 6:30pm
As part of the research and development process for Orlando: A Pornobiography, piss / CARNATION (Charli Cowgill and Laurie Ward) will take part in a series of ‘in-conversation’ seminars centred around transfemininity, the mediation of trans bodies on stage and screen, and the experience of adapting Woolf’s novel from a materialist transfeminist perspective.
These conversations, chaired by Dr Lloyd Meadhbh Houston, will be conducted with international experts in Woolf studies, trans performance studies, trans pornography, and the digital humanities, and will culminate in a practical workshop on queering augmented reality.
These discussions will be of particular interest to faculty members, ECRs, PGRs, and undergraduates working on topics in gender and sexuality studies, modern and contemporary literary studies, and performance studies.
Session One (2 May) – “Adapting Orlando: Woolf’s Text and Its Afterlives”
In conversation with Dr Jane Goldman (University of Glasgow)
Session Two (9 May) “Transing Performance: Staging Transfeminine Embodiment”
In conversation with Dr Rachel Hann (Northumbria University)
Session Three (16 May) “Mediating Transfeminine Embodiment: Trans Pornography”
In conversation with Dr Sophie Pezzutto (Australian National University)
Session Four (23 May) “Queering Realities: Augmented Reality, Live Cinema, and Digital Transfemininity” – a practical digital humanities workshop facilitated by Dr Eleanor Dare (University of Cambridge), in collaboration with Charli Cowgill and Laurie Ward
Trans Theatre-Making and Performance Masterclasses with piss / CARNATION
Judith E Wilson Drama Studio from 7-9pm
In tandem with these in-conversation events, piss / CARNATION will facilitate a series of practical masterclasses on trans theatre-making and performance, intended to equip participants to create,rehearse, and perform new work in queer and experimental ways. These hands-on, skill-building masterclasses will be of particular interest to students and members of the local community who are eager to learn how to devise and develop new creative work, explore embodiment on-stage and on-screen, and engage safely and sensitively with challenging topics, in conversation with a pair of field-leading industry professionals. Participants of all backgrounds and levels of experience are welcome.
The masterclass series will culminate with a work-in-progress sharing of Orlando: A Pornobiography, followed by a post-show roundtable and discussion featuring the piss / CARNATION team and a panel of invited trans scholars, artists, and organisers.
Session One (2 May) “Identifying Your Creative Practice”
Session Two (9 May) “Queering Performance, Transing Performance”
Session Three (16 May) “Embodiment, Provocation, and Performing Sensitive Material”
Session Four (23 May) Orlando: A Pornobiography – Work-in-Progress Sharing and Post-Show Roundtable
The drama studio is located in the basement of the Faculty of English and is accessible via the Faculty lift or a stairwell.
Please do not attend if experiencing cold-like symptoms.