See Contested Bodies in the ballroom at the Powel House!

The play centres on the relationship between acclaimed surgeon, Doctor James Barry, his African manservant, John and the then, Governor of the Cape Colony, Lord Charles Henry Somerset. Barry lived his entire adult life as a man but was named Margret Ann at birth and was known as female in childhood. Barry’s biological sex only became widely known to the public and his colleagues after his death in 1865.

In Contested Bodies, things get down and dirty in the Governor’s residence when the three men decide, as part of their evening’s entertainment, to enact a lewd and lascivious play penned by the ultimate libertine and provocateur, the salacious Marquis de Sade. The enactment of the De Sade play reveals many unspoken truths and recalibrates the men’s friendship and relationship with each other. 

Written by Fred Abrahamse and Marcel Meyer. Produced by Abrahamse & Meyer Productions and EgoPo Classical Theater. A special, limited-performance run in honor of EgoPo's 30th Anniversary Season.

Wednesday, September 27 | Thursday, September 28 | Saturday September 30 at 6:30 PM
Tickets are $20-$40

EgoPo transforms timeless works of literature into innovative and immersive theatrical events. We re-envision the classic canon by reintroducing diverse works and re-bodying existing canonical works to ensure a wide range of voices, bodies, and stories are shared on our stages. We expand on the concept of “classic” by producing significant works of literature which have been systematically excluded due to the race, ideologies, and identity of the authors. By educating audiences on a wide-range of histories and perspectives, we create an inviting space for diverse audiences and establish meaningful human connections across cultures and communities.