Body-consciousness takes form in SHEILA
For the staged reading of her original play, SHEILA, a colleague of mine wanted minimal props — with one exception. She enlisted me to embark on a 2-day project sprint, during which time I designed and constructed Sheila, the physical manifestation of the protagonist’s struggle with her own bodily limitations and desires.
SHEILA follows the journey of six eclectic female-identifying roommates as they navigate relationships with others and themselves.
The artistic Samantha constructs a sculpture of a woman, dubbed “Sheila,” as the play unfolds and the audience learns of her chronic health issues. A foil for her own unattainable ideal, the play climaxes when Samantha rips her creation apart.
What does your ideal body look like? How would you approach constructing it? SHEILA provides a platform for the audience to engage with the unspoken realities and challenges of living in one’s skin, and opens the door for communal dialogue around how we support one another.
