Credit Line by Pepa Duarte
Written & performed by Pepa Duarte
Directed by Sergio Maggiolo

 

 

Back home, the mouth-watering flavours and aromas of traditional Peruvian cooking was forbidden in Pepa’s home. Except when Grandma would sneak in a steak and some spices. In England, Pepa found herself on a journey, a journey inside herself, to discover that food could be shared with a new family around a new table. And you are invited to taste it. Through her own experiences, Duarte takes us on an exciting journey that will make us reflect on our own relationship with food.

 

 

EATING MYSELF is a powerful and vulnerable female exploration about food, the kitchen, and the act of nurturing ourselves within the construction of a woman’s identity in Peruvian society. A communal experience through the real task of cooking on stage while digging into the performer’s deep fight around body image and self-care, this is. A shared ritual with South American flavour, that pretends to take the audience back to our roots and question how different we are.

Pepa Duarte is a Peruvian actor, theatre-maker and drama teacher. Coming from the world of devising, physical theatre and improvisation, Pepa's work combines different techniques to challenge and engage with the audience. After over 10 years of making work and training actors in Peru, Pepa moved to London for her Master's Theatre Laboratory at RADA. Her creations are mostly related to women rights, immigration and activism.

The show was born out of the urge to talk about the relationship between women and food, and the act of nurturing oneself and others. Through storytelling, movement and music Eating Myself aims to bring the audience closer to their own traditions, it sees questioning and exploring our roots as a way of understanding ourselves. Pepa uses on stage cooking to generate an intimate sensory experience full of flavour.

Join Pepa Duarte (A Fight Against, Royal Court) for a full sensory experience exploring womanhood, body image and tradition in her debut play directed by Sergio Maggolio (The Dark Stone, Cervantes Theatre, Ovalhouse and Arcola).

 

 

 

“A brave and deeply personal account of one woman’s complicated relationship with food, family and heritage.”

"Overall this production was captivating, marvellous, enjoyable and unique. Duarte’s physicality throughout the performance is breathtaking and her comedic timing Is impeccable"

"Duarte's writing is balanced and truthful. Pepa is charismatic and effortlessly engaging. Her warm and welcoming stage presence is unlike others I have witness before.

"A well-crafted piece of theatrical storytelling. Nourishing, and created with a great deal of heart and soul."

 

“Duarte’s exploration of food (from every angle) is warm, generous and asks all the right questions.”

 

“Duarte sparkles on stage, and the honesty behind her performance is undeniable”

“Intimate and inventive one-woman show… What gives the show its unique power is an overt and audacious theatricality.”

 

Audience members:
“Truthful, soulful, passionate, and an amazing piece of work” I feel moved, tears still blurring my vision as I write this post. (…) It is a personal show that transcends Pepa Duarte's personal story and awakens our own.”

 

“l found this play, so moving, so profound, incredibly uncomfortable at times and so relatable.”

 

“I haven't heard people talk about how spiritual food is very much but it really really is for me and the play captured those feelings - "Eating Myself" is such a deep and original concept!”

 

“Truly generous and powerful performance. It speaks universally to girls and women – through our childhood, family and cultural traditions, adolescent confusion, generational spirit, love.” - Jodi-Alissa Bickerton, Creative Learning Director, Graeae Theatre Company