“The Abortion Monologues was perfect for the Alumnae Theatre, a women’s theatre group whose mandate includes producing plays that make people think, feature strong roles for women, and are written by Canadian playwrights.”
– Dinah Watts on behalf of Alumnae Theatre, Toronto
Contact me to obtain the rights to produce the play.
In this play, twenty-three Canadian women reveal the details of their lives, relationships and families as they tell the stories of their abortions. Sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking, but always thought provoking, these monologues exist in stark contrast to the real world in which women seldom publicly discuss this choice. The characters in this play face everyday hardship, financial crisis, relationship break down, illness, death, radical shifts in expectations and the truth about themselves and their own deepest desires. They challenge you to think again about what you believe and why you believe it.
The play premiered in Portland, Oregon in April, 2009 to an audience of almost 400 people, many of whom worked as providers in clinics throughout Canada, the United States and Mexico. It has since been produced many times in Canada and the US. Audience members at the premier said the play is accessible and moving and that it captures the emotions and ambivalence many women feel when making the choice to terminate a pregnancy. One provider said that the play offered him a rare opportunity to speak openly about his work. Another audience member described the play as a “contemplative look at what is real.” Since then, it has been performed many times in Canada and the US, including at the University of Texas, Brownsville as part of a Ford Foundation funded “Difficult Dialogues” initiative.
In the news
The Abortion Monologues continues to forge a relevant path today. On April 4, 2024, a production of my play was presented by the National Council of Jewish Women in Pittsburgh, followed by a conversation about the ongoing need to preserve and promote safe reproductive healthcare. Read the Pittsburgh NPR news coverage.
The Abortion Monologues Blog
For many years, I blogged specifically about reproductive rights in the Abortion Monologues blog. It is now archived and I don’t plan to add new posts. Somewhere in these entries I have written pretty much everything I have to say about abortion and reproductive rights issues and the politics that surround them.
Praise for The Abortion Monologues
“The Abortion Monologues was perfect for the Alumnae Theatre, a women’s theatre group whose mandate includes producing plays that make people think, feature strong roles for women, and are written by Canadian playwrights. From the moment we discovered Jane’s beautiful play, to the presentation of our staged reading less than two months later, the feeling of excitement just grew and grew. A group of very talented actors and technicians joined together to bring it to fruition as a fundraiser for Planned Parenthood and Choice in Health. We timed the event to coincide with the G20 Summit in Toronto and our sold out audience received it very enthusiastically. All felt honoured and grateful to be part of this wonderful expression of love and support for women and our right to choose.”
– Dinah Watts on behalf of Alumnae Theatre, Toronto.
Audience reaction from the Canadian Premiere in Calgary, Alberta in February 2010:
“I laughed out loud. I cried, especially when, early on, after she’d spoken, one of the women backed up into the chorus and other women reached out for her and guided her – incredibly powerful for me, the community of women. I think your play helps reaffirm and heal the community of women, a community that’s crucial to all of us, and that in so many ways has been and is being assaulted and harmed by intent, accident and neglect.”
“We laughed, empathised, identified, supported and cheered…. It was about women first, and rhetoric second.”
“I was amazed. Not only by the writing, and the acting, and the directing, and the sincerity, and the ‘realness’ – but by how it moved me. Tonight made me realize how lucky I am. How lucky that the nurses were so nice to me and were willing to help with my abortion options, and how my Mom supported me no matter what. I ended up keeping the baby, who is now the love of my life, but it felt good to have those options so I could make the choice. It was always up to me.”
Videos
This is an excerpt of a monologue from the Canadian premiere of The Abortion Monologues that I produced in Calgary, Alberta, in 2010. Watch all five video excerpts on The Abortion Monologues YouTube channel.
Below is a video from a production mounted by the Blue Mountain Clinic in Montana who used the play to create awareness and raise money with the help of volunteer actors. I’m happy to have the play used in this way, and glad that it is making a contribution to the public discussion of this important issue or raising funds to protect reproductive rights.
Note: There are other “abortion monologues” videos kicking around on the web. Be aware that some are anti-choice and not associated with my play.
Contact me to obtain the rights to produce the play.