The Upcoming
  • Cinema & Tv
    • Movie reviews
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Show reviews
  • Music
    • Live music
  • Food & Drinks
    • News & Features
    • Restaurant & bar reviews
    • Interviews & Recipes
  • Theatre
  • Art
  • Travel & Lifestyle
  • Literature
  • Fashion & Beauty
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Competitions
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

CultureTheatre

Venus vs Modernity

Venus vs Modernity | Theatre review
26 October 2020
Ghazaleh Golpira
Avatar
Ghazaleh Golpira
26 October 2020

Saartjie Baartman (Lebo Mashile) was a prominent figure in the 1800s. A South African Khoikhoi, she spent the majority of her life being ridiculed by the British and the French due to her varied body type and foreign skin tone. Two centuries later in Venus vs Modernity, Baartman’s story has been brought to the stage by Nigeria’s literary, cultural and arts festival – Aké – so that it may continue to shed light on the hardship and abuse that many African women still face today.

Having lived through times of colonialism and slavery, Baartman endured a long fight to make sure that her voice could be heard. The show’s narrative unfolds through dance, song and the spoken word, following Saartjie from Cape Town to England where she is promised fame and fortune by the sweet-mouthed Brits who pledge to take the new arrival under their wing. Throughout her adventures, she is accompanied by Venus (Ann Masina), a fiery character who adds a fictionalised element to the story through her interactions with Baartman. 

Mashile has an extraordinary talent for mimicry which she exercises firmly and effortlessly over the course of the play. Likewise, Masina is a gifted singer whose soothing operatic voice is magnetic and trance-like. Written by the leading actress, the production aims to be as relevant today as it would have been 200 years ago. She achieves this by utilising the stage to remind women about the importance of self-worth and encourage them to fight for their rights and beliefs while being careful not to sell themselves short.

Though there were some glitches – such as the performers’ voices being occasionally silenced by the loud backing track – the message of the story is loud and clear. Diversity and inclusivity are the historical pillars of our lives, and they must be preserved. 

★★★★★

Ghazaleh Golpira

Venus vs Modernity is online from 24th October 2020. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.

Related Itemsreview

More in Theatre

The Father and the Assassin at the National Theatre

★★★★★
Natallia Pearmain
Read More

Dirty Dancing the Movie in concert at Apollo Theatre

★★★★★
Jim Compton-Hall
Read More

My Fair Lady at the London Coliseum

★★★★★
Michael Higgs
Read More

“When you’re presented with different dilemmas in life, you respond accordingly”: Debbie Kurup on The Cher Show

Mae Trumata
Read More

2:22 A Ghost Story at Criterion Theatre

★★★★★
Michael Higgs
Read More

The House of Shades at Almeida Theatre

★★★★★
Csilla Tornallyay
Read More

Grease at Dominion Theatre

★★★★★
Cristiana Ferrauti
Read More

House of Ife at Bush Theatre

★★★★★
Selina Begum
Read More

Banter Jar at Lion & Unicorn Theatre: “An authentic and timely one-woman show”

★★★★★
Jessica Wall
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap

Theatre review

Ghazaleh Golpira

Venus vs Modernity

★★★★★

Dates

From 24th October 2020

Price

Free

Links & directions

InstagramFacebookWebsiteNo map

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • Albert Adrià reopens Enigma on 7 June as a “fun-dining” restaurant and cocktail bar
    Food & Drinks
  • The Road Dance
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Paolo Nutini at the 100 Club
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Crimes of the Future: Three new clips from David Cronenberg’s dystopian body horror film
    Cannes
  • The Innocents
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Marcel!
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
  • More than Ever (Plus que Jamais)
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
  • Plan 75
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
  • Enys Men
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
  • The Stranger
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
  • More than Ever (Plus que Jamais)
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
  • Plan 75
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
  • Dirty Dancing the Movie in concert at Apollo Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Feminine Power: The Divine to the Demonic at the British Museum
    ★★★★★
    Art
  • Eo (Hi-Han)
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why
With the support from:
International driving license

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

Dead | Movie review
The Harwood Arms in Fulham: World-class Scotch eggs, delicious game and a relaxed atmosphere | Restaurant review