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Writer's pictureLibby Parker

Inaugural disability festival features healthy dose of endo-tainment



Embrace Disability Arts Festival kicks off its debut season this month with a line-up of events from South Aussie artists living with disability and chronic illness.

A brand new, multi-platform arts festival being developed as part of Carclew’s Share House Residency program, the bill features award winning comedy cabaret Endo Days by Libby Trainor Parker.


Celebrating and commiserating the one in nine people with chronic, incurable menstrual condition endometriosis, Libby Trainor Parker and her Jarmy Army perform their hilarious smash hit show that is both educational and entertaining – it’s pure endo-tainment!


Playing for one night only at her brand new venue Prompt Creative Centre on Pirie Street, Libby says she is proud to be part of Embrace Disability Arts Festival and performing her show as the first event to launch her new performance space.


“I am absolutely delighted to be a part of the first iteration of Embrace Festival and be among a schedule of incredible differently abled and chronically ill artists.


Endo Days is such fun to perform and its purpose is to educate and connect people impacted by endometriosis, which is perfect for a festival that seeks to do the same with disability and debilitating illness. I am grateful to Carclew for championing this festival and to Diana Divine for imagining it into life,” she says.


“I’m also extremely excited to be treading the brand, spanking new boards of Prompt Creative Centre where we have built a stage for the purpose of music and entertainment, thanks to a State Government See it Live grant. What a great way to open our new venue and break in a new stage!”


Embrace Festival Director Diana Divine says Endo Days, which has enjoyed three sold out seasons at Adelaide Fringe is a welcome addition to the program.


“Embrace Fest is extremely excited to host a session of this smash-hit show. Libby is a local legend in disabled artistic circles, bringing acclaim and legitimacy to our festival’s debut marketing. Endo Days is considered one of the program’s headline events, and audiences are responding strongly to its inclusion. As festival director and a personal fan of Libby’s, I am excited to see its latest iteration and honoured to provide the platform,” Diana says.


Endo Days, which won a Fringe Weekly Award for Best Cabaret in 2021, explores everything from periods to painful sex, and shares Libby’s personal stories of infertility, pregnancy loss, and misdiagnosis; in addition to sharing tips and tricks for living well with the illness, which she learned through her work with the Australian Coalition for Endometriosis, Imagendo, EndoZone, Endometriosis Support SA, National Endometriosis Clinical and Scientific Trials, Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia, and through federal and state government funded co-writing schools program, PPEP Talk (Periods, Pain and Endometriosis Program).


“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 illnesses, 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,” Libby says.


Endo Days is a part of an empowering line-up of theatre, visual art, and variety gala for Embrace Festival, which is set to take place between September 23 and 26, with Endo Days playing for one night only on the 23rd, but with Libby and husband Matthew Trainor stepping back on stage for a couple of numbers at the Embrace gala on the 24th at Nexus.


Endo Days Friday 23 September 7:00pm – 8:00pm Prompt Creative Centre 8/205 Pirie Street, Adelaide South Australia 5000 Tickets HERE View the Embrace program HERE

The Advertiser – ☆☆☆☆ 1/2 “If only public health education campaigns were this good.”

Glam Adelaide – ☆☆☆☆☆ “If you have endometriosis, suspect you may have been misdiagnosed, care about someone with endometriosis, or simply want to learn and be entertained at the same time, you must see this show. Head to Gluttony and catch it before the end of the Fringe. Wear your good PJs.”

Radio Adelaide – ☆☆☆☆ “Endo Days is more than an evening of charming chronic illness comedy. It is a lifeline of advocacy for people struggling to manage their symptoms. If you or someone you know has endometriosis, this is the Fringe show you should be attending – not just for the laughs, but for the solidarity of knowing there are other people out there who share your experiences.”


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