Sex Education II

“Sexual pleasure is the physical and/or psychological satisfaction and enjoyment derived from shared or solitary erotic experiences, including thoughts, fantasies, dreams, emotions, and feelings. […] Sexual pleasure is a fundamental part of sexual rights as a matter of human rights.” (From the Declaration on Sexual Pleasure)

“Sex Education II” is a series of five lecture-performances (The Diagnosis”, “Consentire”,“Plays”,“Fight”), that shed light on the right to sexual pleasure from different perspectives and through diverse performance practices. They are based on conversations with women who shared their personal stories, experiences and difficulties, and on interviews with experts in different fields. “The Diagnosis” addresses vaginismus and painful sexual intercourse, which according to some studies is experienced by up to 40% of women. “Consentire” opens up a space for reflection on what consensual sex actually means and what consensual practices look like. “Consentire” is based on the stories of four women with disabilities about their sexual maturation, their relationship with their own bodies, their sexuality and their relationships with their partners. “Plays” ventures into the realm of unconventional sexual practices, what urban slang calls 'kink'. In “Fight”, the artists reconstruct the struggle for reproductive rights in Yugoslavia, which only implicitly touched upon sexual rights, but paved the way for the right to sexual pleasure to be spoken of today.

The lecture-performances were created at Nova pošta (Mladinsko theatre and Maska) throughout the 2022/2023 season. At the City of Women Festival the artists will link them together and perform them one after the other in a day-long event.

*Vaginismus is considered the most difficult sexual dysfunction in women. Vaginismus causes the pelvic floor muscles to spasm, which completely disables vaginal penetration even when a woman desires it.

Tickets reservation on rezervacije@cityofwomen.org, tickets sales at the venue. Ticket for Sex Education II is not included in the festival ticket.

Replay: Sunday, 8. 10. 15.00, Nova pošta. The lecture-performance will be followed by an audience discussion Zbor za publiko.

Authors: Tjaša Črnigoj, Lina Akif, Sendi Bakotić, Nika Rozman, Vanda Velagić, Tijana Todorović, Barbara Kapelj, Tea Vidmar, Lene Lekše; director: Tjaša Črnigoj; music: Tea Vidmar; set design: Barbara Kapelj, Tijana Todorović, Lene Lekše; costume design: Tijana Todorović; performers: Lina Akif, Sendi Bakotić, Nika Rozman, Vanda Velagić; music and performer: Tea Vidmar; also performing: Tjaša Črnigoj, Barbara Kapelj, Tijana Todorović; music selection: authors of lecture performance; experts from the field: Dr. Gabrijela Simetinger, dr. Maja Vehar, Alja Lobnik

Vida Tomšič’s voice: Draga Potočnjak; Franc Novak’s voice: Matej Recer; the voice of the midwife: Nina Skrbinšek; the voice of the broadcaster: Sara Horžen; music selection: authors; language consultant: Mateja Dermelj; women who shared their experiences: Doris Pandžić, Juta, Tara in Iris; Juta’s voice: Janja Majzelj; Tara’s voice: Nathalie Horvat; Nuri’s voice: Katarina Stegnar

They shared their experiences: Martina Piskač (together with Uroš Sedej), Doris Pandžić, Iris, Juta, Linda, Nura, Suzana, Tara, Tjaša, and anonymous interviewees.

The lectures-performances include statements from experts: Dr. Gabrijele Simetinger, Elena Pečarič, Jernej Hazimali, and Steven De Weirdt.

Biographical information for Vida Tomšič and Franc Novak provided by Živa Novak.