Celebrating and commiserating the one in nine people with chronic, incurable menstrual condition endometriosis, Libby Trainor Parker and her Handsome Man Band are heading to Gluttony in 2022.
Following a sell-out run of shows at Adelaide Fringe in 2020 and 2021, Endo Days, the winner of Best Cabaret Weekly Award 2021, is spreading the word about endo through a bunch of hilarious original songs and stories.
“It takes an average of seven years to be diagnosed with endometriosis, but it took 22 years for me. I was misdiagnosed with several mental illness rather than this chronic pain condition for a huge portion of my life. When I finally found out the symptoms weren’t in my head, I dedicated my life to educating people about endo so they could live a better quality of life,” Endo Days writer and performer Libby Trainor Parker says.
“With my husband, musician Matthew Trainor, I have written original songs that are set to inform and entertain people about their condition. We’ve reached so many people in such a positive way with this show, which tells my own story of my endo journey and leaves plenty of room for others to share theirs. It’s a singing support group!”
For the past two years, the show that has empowered and educated patients, partners, parents and people has done as much for Libby as it has done for audiences.
“It gives me so much joy to know that people who felt like they were isolated in this illness have found a connection to the information and humour in the show. We talk about everything from period pain to painful sex, and share stories of infertility, pregnancy loss, and misdiagnosis, but it’s all done through a healthy dose of humour and uses the information I have learned through working with the Australian Coalition for Endometriosis, Imagendo, National Endometriosis Clinical and Scientific Trials, Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia, and through writing schools program, PPEP Talk (Periods, Pain and Endometriosis Program),” Libby says.
Thanks to grants from Adelaide Fringe and City of Adelaide, Libby and Matthew have been able to develop their show concept that has resonated with so many people living with endometriosis and other related illnesses over the past two seasons; and they have enlisted the expertise of Producer Peta Spurling-Brown (Damian Callinan, Smashed, Double Denim) of Hey Boss and Musical Director Victoria Falconer (Fringe Wives Club, Smashed), while also moving to a bigger, female-led venue in Gluttony The Lark, bringing this cabaret hit to an even wider audience.
“I am so excited to be working with Libby on this hilarious, boundary-smashing and urgently necessary show. Not only is Libby a stunning performer that Fringe audiences with fall in love with as soon as she steps into the light, but the story that she generously shares is one that needs voicing. Armed with original songs, a belting live band and charisma to disarm, Libby’s recounting of the experience of living with endo not only creates space for the community, but invites us all in. Cabaret edu-tainment at its finest!” Victoria Falconer says.
Endo Days is on at The Lark at Gluttony, 4:30pm every Saturday and Sunday of Fringe, and Monday 14 March.
Photo by Nat Rogers.