A provocative and uncompromising play that shattered theatrical taboos when it first premiered more than three decades ago will take to the stage in Jersey next week to mark International Women’s Day.
Ahead of next week’s production of The Vagina Monologues at the Jersey Arts Centre, director Dani Perrier spoke to Express about staging the groundbreaking play more than 30 years after it first shocked, challenged and inspired audiences around the world.
Based on interviews with more than 200 women, the piece confronts topics including consent, sexual violence, body image and gender equality – issues that remain deeply relevant today, particularly in light of the island’s Violence Against Women and Girls Taskforce report.
Dani discusses why the production still resonates, how she approached directing such an iconic and emotionally charged work, and the conversations she hopes it will spark within the island community…
What does the show mean to you as a director?
When creating The Vagina Monologues, V spoke with more than 200 women, and it’s their voices we share.
The play leans into the highs and lows, the humorous and the often‑untold experiences of real women.
So what it means to me is showcasing truth and shaking the taboos associated with female experiences.
Why does The Vagina Monologues still matter today, more than 30 years after it premiered?
The Vagina Monologues remains highly relevant today because many of the issues it addresses are still present. Conversations around consent, sexual violence, bodily autonomy, and gender equality continue to dominate global discussions.
The Vagina Monologues encourages open dialogue in a world where there is still shame and stigma surrounding conversations about women’s bodies.
By amplifying voices that are too often ignored, the play continues to inspire awareness, solidarity, and social change in the modern world.
Why is this show particularly important to stage in Jersey right now?
Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) is a global issue and Jersey is no different. The Jersey VAWG Taskforce Report was published in November 2023 and shows the need for this conversation now.
The report is the outcome of the research undertaken to better understand the nature, extent, and experiences of VAWG in Jersey. It provides recommendations for government and other key stakeholders to reduce such violence in all its forms and to improve the support available for victim-survivors.
Sunday 8 March is International Women’s Day and therefore this is a perfect time to perform The Vagina Monologues and celebrate women.
How have you approached directing such an iconic and politically charged piece?
I first saw The Vagina Monologues in 2003 whilst a student at university and I have been thinking about it since then.
I have tried to make it a unique staging, we have all the characters on stage all the time, ‘existing’ in their own worlds, this shows that each story is not just one person’s but they are stories echoed around the world from all parts of our communities.
I don’t think it needs to be particularly political, I think it is a message of understanding and empathy which should resonate whatever your personal beliefs.
How did you support your cast in navigating the emotional weight of the material?
I am lucky to have 14 talented performers who are also wonderful people. This project has been a joy from start to finish. The cast have been dedicated, generous with their ideas, and their creative spirit has made my role feel wonderfully simple.
We have known from the beginning that we need to support each other with the emotional weight of the show and therefore lots of cake and tea and support has helped.
The hugs you see in the show are the genuine support that they give each other.
What conversations do you hope this production will spark in the community?
We hope to spark open, honest conversations in our community about topics that are often kept quiet, like body image, consent, sexuality, and gender-based violence. These are issues that affect real people here, but they’re not always easy to talk about.
We hope audiences leave feeling empowered to continue those conversations with their friends, families, and workplaces. It’s about breaking stigma, challenging shame, and creating a space where people feel heard and supported.
Ultimately, we want this production to encourage empathy, awareness, and a stronger sense of solidarity within the community.
What do you want audiences to feel – or do – after they leave the theatre?
We don’t set out to offend or upset; our aim is to spark thought, reflection, and hopefully moments of laughter. Some stories do touch on sexual assault, and we honour the importance of hearing these truths.
Hopefully, we will empower people to share their own stories and reach out for support if they need it. Hopefully, by making people aware of the topics we will raise we can encourage people to be supportive of others and not be bystanders to the ongoing VAWG in our community. If people pick-up and read the VAWG report to understand the local context, that would be brilliant.
However, I want to stress it’s not all bleak, hopefully the audience will laugh and feel empowered by the strength in sharing stories.
We finish with a wonderful dance about female strength and so this is what they should walk away feeling.