Kayfabe Livestream

Meet the best wrestler in the world. Tomorrow, Sofia Guardià will defend her championship belt for the 24^th time at the nation’s biggest stadium. Sofia is uplifting. She’s a fighter. She’s a hero. In contrast, her opponent is Megan Crush, a ruthless brute from the pits of hell.

But tonight, they share a problem. As the women behind these personas meet in a gym to rehearse the biggest match of their lives, they learn of the way they’re being presented in the media. The transgender wrestler is labelled a danger, who will steal the belt with an unfair advantage. The cisgender champion is described as a victim. The papers speculate that new legislation will be announced the day after the match, barring trans women from women’s spaces.

Will these performers still choreograph a wrestling spectacle, even if it condemns them to become the poster-children for this new law?

Praise for our previous play, Spit It Out:

‘A phenomenal narrative that doesn’t shy away from difficult topics … This show is phenomenal. It is incredibly well written and performed. It uses both comedic and heartfelt moments to create an engaging storyline’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – GJD reviews

‘The aim to present a trans led narrative on stage is achieved with ease … The play has lots of heart and speaks its truth well … it’s the kind of show that Fringe Festivals exist for and a narrative that needs to be heard’ – Paul T Davies, Keep Colchester Cool

‘Must-watch show’ – Scene Mag

Shuttleskull Productions is proud to platform theatre that celebrates the narratives of transgender women. Our previous full-length show, Spit It Out, explores how a struggle to come out to the workplace, family, and dating pool can affect friendships and social lives. The production toured the King’s Head Theatre, Headgate Theatre, Pinch of Vault Festival, Brighton Fringe, and Colchester Fringe. Along the way, the show enjoyed sold-out performances and five star reviews.

The name ‘Shuttleskull’ is a pastiche to the myth of Arachne, who was hit in the head three times by Minerva with a weaving shuttle after upstaging her in a weaving competition within Ovid’s Metamorphoses. It symbolises a commitment to make exceptional art that stands up to authority, no matter the consequences.

Writer: Alice K Stephens
Director: Isobel Sheard
Performers: Josie Long, Marina Cusí Sànchez
Website: shuttleskull.com
Producer: Alice K Stephens,
Producer: Joe Eason
Producer: Marina Cusí Sànchez