Krishna Istha is a performance artist, and their performance, First Trimester, runs between 1 and 11 November at Battersea Arts Centre. Exploring groundbreaking territory, the performance has been commissioned by Battersea Arts Centre, Roundhouse and Marlborough Productions and supported by the Netflix Documentary Talent Fund and Arts Council England.
In First Trimester you’re invited to witness intimate live interviews between Krishna and 100s of participants, in a quest to find them and their partner a sperm donor, or at least discover the qualities that bring them closer to their perfect match.
Krishna was asked a series of questions relating to the performance: Why is it durational? How were the questions conceptualised? What can audiences anticipate?
This interview with Krishna is courtesy of Battersea Arts Centre…
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First Trimester is a groundbreaking performance that offers a rare opportunity to contribute to and witness queer family-making.
Krishna wants to have a baby with their partner, Logan. To have that baby, they must first find a sperm donor. But they’re not interested in the usual qualities listed on the sperm bank websites, such as height, eye colour, race, qualifications, etc. That is unimportant to them; they care about qualities potential donors possess beyond genetics. But what are those qualities?
Krishna Istha has devised a performance that will assist them in making the right choice.
“Whether you have sperm to donate or not, I am conducting 10-minute conversations live on stage, with as many people as I can, in order to learn more about the kind of person I want to help me get pregnant.” – Krishna.
First Trimester invites you to witness intimate live interviews between Krishna and 100s of participants over two weeks in a quest to find them and their partner a sperm donor or at least discover the qualities that bring them closer to their perfect match. The audience consequently embarks on a journey with Krishna as they search for the ‘perfect’ sperm donor. The show explores human connection and parenthood and challenges expectations, redefining what it means to create a family as a transgender person.
Using Krishna, their partner, and a whole community of queer and trans people as the source, as well as midwives, family law experts, and academics, Krishna asks questions, ranging from funny to serious, from matter-of-fact information to philosophical perspectives to make the ultimate connection.
Questions such as, “Are you kind?”; “Did you grow up with pets?”; “What do you think happens when we die?”; “Where do you store your memories? “… and, most significantly for Krishna, “Have you watched The Princess Diaries?”.
The audience will also be able to contribute questions throughout the performance, and they can then be submitted to the Randomiser, which has been specially created using a unique code for this performance.
Audience members are invited to watch the interviews unfold but are also welcome to sign up as participants and prospective donors, regardless of their ability to donate sperm. They welcome participants aged 18 to 60+ from all backgrounds. Each interview is pivotal in helping Krishna inch closer to finding the right donor.
Are you looking to participate in First Trimester?
If you are interested in participating, please visit https://firsttrimester.co.uk.
This is the World Premiere of this one-of-a-kind durational experience.
All performances are relaxed, and you are welcome to come and go as you please within the slot you have selected. For weekday performances, you can stay for the whole 3 hours. You can buy a ticket for 8 hours (plus an hour break) or two-hour slots for Saturday performances.
This is an unmissable event in trans and queer representation and in conversations around reproductive rights.
Book tickets for First Trimester https://bac.org.uk/whats-on/first-trimester/
First Trimester runs between 1 and 11 November at Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill, London SW11 5TN, United Kingdom.
