‘Positively Shameless Now’ Brings Workshop, Performance to Campus October 30 and 31

October 24, 2018

  • Positively Shameless Now explores the effects of childhood sexual abuse into adulthood and society.
  • “’Positively Shameless Now’ provides an important opportunity to address issues of sexual assault, develop strategies to end sexual violence, and build solidarities across campus and beyond,” said RCAH Professor Sitara Thobani
  • Group hails from Bangalore, India.

By Kara Dempsey '19

Positively Shameless Now, a theatre performance troupe from Bangalore, India that delves into childhood, will offer a workshop on October 30 and a performance on October 31 focusing on aspects of childhood sexual abuse. The workshop will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Room 303 of the International Centre, and the performance will be at 5:30 p.m. in the Erickson Kiva.  

Both events are free and open to the public.

During the workshop, the Positively Shameless Now cast and crew will help participants explore the four characters portrayed in the performance and analyze where they may fit into the narrative, according to a description of the event. Participating students can also portray the characters as the actors did, delving deeper into different dynamics of being a survivor. The portrayal will help students answer questions about sexual abuse such as:

  • “Where do I play what? “
  • “How am I enrolled as this?”
  • “Who does the enrolling?”
  • “What larger socio-political processes are at play in the enrolment and the performance?”
  • “What are the implications of my performing a certain role in a certain space?”

The October 31 performance, “Positively Shameless Now,” focuses on:

  • Childhood sexual abuse and its effects on adulthood.
  • The social complicity that enables the childhood sexual abuse.
  • The celebration of the comradeship and resistance among survivors.

Thobani—who has been involved in organizing the event—noted the importance of this performance on MSU’s campus to create dialogue and contribute to efforts to grow and heal in the community.

She said she also believes that the workshop is a great tool for students to explore creative ways to express themselves, promote dialogue and healing,  and bring about change on campus.

Watch the trailer of the performance here.

The visit is sponsored by the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities and co-sponsored by the Office for Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives, the Muslim Studies Program, the Asian Pacific American Studies Program, Peace and Justice Studies, the Department of Theatre, the India Council, and the Asian Studies Centre.