The Epicene Butcher and Other Stories for Consenting Adults

The Epicene Butcher and Other Stories for Consenting Adults is a play by Gwydion Beynon and Jemma Kahn.

The original text

With a text by Gwydion Beynon and drawings by Jemma Kahn, the play uses a range of drawing and narrative styles and techniques to take the audience on a journey ranging from old Japanese folk tales to a tongue-in-cheek pornographic piece, ending with an anime rendition of Nelson Mandela's long walk to freedom. Her energy is infectious, and her assistant 'Chalk Girl' is an insolent audience favourite.

After its initial runs in South Africa, the piece has been performed more than 400 times around the world, receiving a range of awards from various festivals, including from the National Arts Festival, the Fringe Amsterdam, the Musho! Theatre Festival and so on.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

2012: Performed by Daddy's Little Secret at the National Arts Festival in July, directed by John Trengove with Jemma Kahn and Klara Van Wyk (as "chalk girl").

2012: Performed in The Nunnery at the University of the Witwatersrand on 10 August, as part of that year's at the 969 Festival of works from the NAF.

2013: Performed at the Market Theatre in April, directed by John Trengove with Jemma Kahn and Klara Van Wyk (as "chalk girl").

2013: Performed at the Alexander Bar 31 times between Oct. 28, 2013 and Jan. 17, 2015.

2019: Performed once again at the Alexander Bar from 27 August to 7 September.

Storytelling
Directed by John Trengove, written by Gwydion Beynon, starring Jemma Kahn & Dylan Esbach as 'Chalk Girl'. Illustrations by Jemma Kahn, Carlos Amato & Gwydion Beynon