b'Short Essays Beth BowdenWise Children ReviewThis review was submitted as part of a portfolio assessment for the second-year module Performance and Interpretation.Short EssaysBeth BowdenIn February 2019, Bristol Old Vic Theatre staged theshapes and heights. Due to this, it was apparent that touring production of Wise Children. Directed by EmmaNora and Dora could represent anyone, from anywhere. Rice, the ensemble cast explored the story of the ChanceThrough this, Rice assimilates othered identities into the Twins: two incredibly complex, theatrical and strongmainstream of her play (Dolan 2001: 113). The production women, throughout different stages of their lives (Ricetransgressed hegemonic cultural norms and presented 2018: 16). The production created a world of magic realismutopian ideas about a completely revised social sphere, and carnival utopia, which questioned hierarchical andwhere every person is a part of the mainstream (Dolan oppressive structures associated with gender, identity2001: 113). This was particularly evident at the end of and sexuality. To analyse this, I will concentrate onthe production, when all the actors who play the roles both Feminist and Queer Theory. Both theories areof Nora and Dora sat together onstage: no performers appropriate as they are drawn to the disruptions of thelooked or sounded the same. Here, in a world of magic traditionally realist masculinist gaze (Fortier 2016: 102).realism, the supposed twins were anything but identical. Moreover, both address intersecting issues of gender,During this moment, any audience member could relate sex and sexuality (Marinucci 2016: IV). The oppressionto someone onstage. Although equality may not currently of women and the suppression of lesbian, gay, bisexualexist in the outside world, Wise Children uses the theatrical and transgender identities are deeply intertwined andspace to imagine the possibilities of a future society.Sat can be analysed through both lenses (Marinucci 2016:together, each cast member was united and equal: all main IV). By focusing on Jill Dolans work, I will firstlycharacters in the storyline. Through this, the production of concentrate on the creation of the utopian theatrical world,Wise Children, much like feminist and Queer Theory seeks in which hegemonic cultural norms can be challenged.to encompass that which has been excluded, ridiculed, Subsequently, I will explore how Wise Children uses thisoppressedsex yes and sexuality, but also gender, race, utopia to challenge oppressive notions around gender andclass (McNulty 1993: 12). Through inclusive casting, female sexuality.the performance champions equality and diversity and challenges hierarchical, oppressive structures, where only Through the use of subversive theatrical play, Wise Childrenthe experiences of white men are represented onstage. created a utopian society where the diverse other is represented. Indeed, performance can offer imaginaryOne example of this within the performance was the alternativesa way of viewing the world free fromfluidity of concepts of identity and gender. At multiple constraints of the present (Dolan 2001: 114). The rulespoints the roles of Nora and Dora were played by both are different: the theatre space allows us to imagine anmale and female actors, which disrupted culturally alternative world. In this way, Wise Children includes thoseembedded ideas around gender. By casting the twins who have been excluded in the traditional canon of work.as both male and female, Wise Children engages with The idea of diverse representation is exemplified in thesubversive play found every time someone adopts a gender main characters of Nora and Dora. There are three pairsin contradiction with his or her biological sex (Berger of actors who play Nora and Doraeach represent the2013: 23). This was a conscious decision by Emma Rice, Chance Twins at a different stage in their lives (Fergusonwho said that she was not bound by preconceptions about 2018: 25). Emma Rice wanted the twins to be everygender as [she] looked for [her] leading ladies (Rice person and represent the diversity of humanity (Rice:2018: 16). In the realm of theatre If [Rice says] a woman 2018). As such, the actors who play Nora and Dora, areis man, [the audience] will believe it and if I cast a man all very differentdifferent skin colours, genders, bodyand a womanas identical twinsno problem. (Rice 47'