A fun Janet Jackson focussed show that examines nipplegate and its legacy

Nipplegate, later described as ‘a wardrobe malfunction’ saw Justin Timberlake expose Janet Jackson’s breast and nipple to a huge live TV audience for nine sixteenths of a second. It had a widespread impact which continues to this day and helped to popularise YouTube (millions used it to rewatch the incident), then a struggling minority interest  video-sharing site. The show uses the incident in an entertainingly fun way to examine how the media treatment of middle aged women has changed since the turn of the century. It is performed by four 40+ black women.

Nine Sixteenths unpacks the rise, fall and rise again of global pop superstar Jackson, and what this has to say about how black women are treated by the media. Created by artist/theatre-maker Paula Varjack, it explores coming of age in the 1990s and how hugely influential Jackson was, especially for young black women. It’s fast, fun and hugely entertaining – the venue and audience are transported to a world of stadium concerts and TV studios. It takes the audience on a journey, exploring themes of representation and pop culture with a nostalgia for the early 00’s, and the hopes and dreams of four black female performers through a visual variety of devised theatre, dance and lip sync.

Paula said ‘Janet Jackson was a tremendous icon to me at a time when I had relatively few black female artists to look to. She was a game changer in so many ways – and did it on her terms. After her ‘wardrobe malfunction’ the music industry let her down, in ways so effective that many thought her career faded away. Yet she kept working, making music and films. Now, finally, the injustice of what happened is being recognised. In the end, it’s the art that matters. As an iconic role model for many black women, and an outspoken ally for the lgbtqI+ community she made great art. The show also looks at why role models matter and the lack of older female role models of colour and the role that (largely) white male media executives play in deciding who thrives in mainstream pop culture’.

Nine Sixteenths is directed by Evening Standard Future Theatre Award Winner, RTST Peter Hall Award Shortlisted and twice JMK Award Shortlisted Emily Aboud. It features a cast of four black 40+ women. Joining Paula are Pauline Mayers (also Movement Director); acclaimed Copenhagen based choreographer Julienne Doko ; RSC, National Theatre and performer, writer, director and creative arts activist/therapist/practitioner Chia Phoenix. Devised by the cast and Endy McKay. Sound design is by Alicia Jane Turner who has been commissioned by the London Philharmonia Orchestra, the London Sinfonietta, Spitalfields Music and National Sawdust (New York).

‘Endurance is my heritage, as a woman, and especially a black woman. I’m convinced that we black women possess a special, indestructible strength that allows us to not only get down but to get up, to get through and to get over’ Janet Jackson receiving the Soul Train award for Outstanding Career Achievement, March 2004

All tour dates feature British Sign Language by Jacqui Beckford and Vinessa Brant as an integral part of the production. Nine Sixteenths is produced by Beth Sitek and is funded by Arts Council England through the National Lottery. It was commissioned by The Pleasance and Cambridge Junction and is supported by ‘Developed with Complicité’, a strand of their Mudlarks idea development programme, with further support from Proteus Theatre, Attenborough Arts Centre and Brixton House. 

For tickets and further information, please check out Paula’s Website.

Images (c) Christa Holka