UNWOMAN (the protest)
Arts Market
Information
UNWOMAN (the protest) is a durational artwork by THE RABBLE (UNWOMAN, WAKE, YES) celebrating the multitude of experiences around birth, in/fertility, pregnancy and parenting.
Over the period of the performance 100's of community participants take to the stage, one after the other, to read their testimony to the audience: their name, age, number of pregnancies and a short statement about their experience. Testimonies are bookmarked by a performance from a local vocalist each hour.
This collaborative and inclusive work turns a spotlight on all kinds of people. Those with children and without. Those who wanted them and couldn't. Those who didn't want them so didn't. Those who forgot.
The work has a short remount period. Each participant attends one group workshop to prepare them for the performance.
Born out of their critically acclaimed performance work UNWOMAN (2018), this deeply human live artwork celebrates all facets of pregnancy and birth. It is a primal scream, a moment of reflection, an occasion for joy and a call to arms at the laws attempting to curb bodily autonomy and reproductive rights.
Company
THE RABBLE
Company / Artist Bio
THE RABBLE is an established artist-led company creating experimental feminist artworks which are theatrical, surreal, rigorous and provocative.
Artistic Directors Kate Davis and Emma Valente formed THE RABBLE in 2006 from a desire to make visually ambitious, political, feminist and formally experimental work. THE RABBLE create content through an improvisational methodology using poetry, prose, image, tableaus and gesture.
In 2025, THE RABBLE celebrated 19 years of artmaking. In the last 5 years we have presented 4 new works, 2 national tours, 9 creative developments and many workshops with venues from Malthouse Theatre to the Altona Italian Social Club. THE RABBLE is produced by Performing Lines.
THE RABBLE seek to make an impactful contribution to the political discourse in Australia. THE RABBLE's previous works have asked questions around;motherhood (Frankenstein, Unwoman), gendered violence (Cain and Abel), sexuality and consent (Story of O), the politics of aging (WAKE).
Location
VIC
Audience
Women
Venue suitability
Any - we're flexible
Reviews
★★★★★
Unwoman is a bold, exquisitely crafted work from a company at the height of its powers. Emma Valente and Kate Davis are geniuses.
-The Age
★★★★★
Perverse, real, harrowing and deeply affecting, this is a universal, unforgettable masterpiece of
Reviews
★★★★★ "Unwoman is a bold, exquisitely crafted work from a company at the height of its powers. Emma Valente and Kate Davis are geniuses." - The Age
Duration
Flexible but ideally durational
Touring Party
4
Previous Seasons
This work is being commissioned by Melbourne Fringe Festival as part of their curated PULSE Program for the 2025 festival. It will premiere at the Edge Stage at Fed Square in October 2025.
Estimated Remount Cost
$20k+
Weekly Sell-Off Fee
N/A
Royalty %
0
Availability
20262027
Partners
Producer: Performing Lines
Commissioner: Melbourne Fringe Festival
Presentation Support: Fed Square
Instagram
@rabbletheatre
Facebook
@THERABBLE
Contact Name
Samantha Butterworth
Contact Phone
0420452088
Contact Email
samantha@performinglines.org.au
Program information
Presentation date
Tuesday 12 August 2025
Presentation type
1-min short video