A multimedia theatre production inspired by the career of pop star Janet Jackson is set to be staged in Reading as part of a nationwide tour.
Nine Sixteenths, created by artist and theatre-maker Paula Varjack, will be performed at South Street Arts Centre on 11 March at 20:00 GMT.
The 80-minute show examines the rise, fall and resurgence of Jackson’s career, focusing on how black women are treated in the media and the importance of visible role models.
The production takes its name from the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show, when Justin Timberlake briefly exposed Jackson’s breast during a live television performance – a moment that lasted nine sixteenths of a second.
While Timberlake’s career continued to flourish, Jackson faced widespread backlash, with the incident dominating headlines and affecting her commercial success for years.
Through devised theatre, dance and lip sync, Nine Sixteenths explores Jackson’s influence on 1990s and early 2000s pop culture and her impact on young black women coming of age at the time.
The show premiered with a two-week run at London’s Pleasance Theatre and is now touring venues across the UK in February, March and May, before concluding with a 10-day run at Brixton House in London.
Varjack said Jackson had been a “tremendous icon” to her at a time when there were relatively few black female artists in mainstream pop.
“After her ‘wardrobe malfunction’ the music industry let her down in ways so effective that many thought her career faded away,” she said. “Yet she kept working, making music and films. Now, finally, the injustice of what happened is being recognised.”
She added that the production also examines who shapes mainstream pop culture and why older female role models of colour are less visible.
The show is directed by Emily Aboud and features a cast of four black women aged over 40. British Sign Language interpretation is integrated into all performances.
Tickets for the Reading performance are priced at £16, with booking available through What’s On Reading. The production is recommended for audiences aged 14 and over.
