“This show…women giving birth…is an unexplored frontier in feminism.”
–Kathleen Edwards, Director
Force of Nature, a one-hour theatrical work, is a compelling educational program that brings to light the social, political and cultural issues of childbirth. An experienced workshop leader, Carole's performance includes pre-show handouts and a provocative post-show audience dialogue. Included in the performance package is a classroom presentation touching on perinatal psychology, attachment and bonding, as well as materials designed to enrich the curricula of women's studies, nursing, midwifery, and a gamut of related disciplines.
The impetus for creating Force of Nature came in 1998 from the birth stories of Carole's postpartum doula clients. Thus began the five-year process of research, countless interviews with mothers, single women and childbirth professionals, transcribing, writing and collaboration with theatre artist and director Kathleen Edwards.
Force of Nature was first performed as a staged reading, edited and directed by FayeB Summers, in January, 2002, as part of the Vashon Allied Arts Original Works program on Vashon Island, Washington. Evolved from the reading and directed by Kathleen Edwards, Force of Nature was then performed in September, 2002, at the Seattle Fringe Festival in Seattle.
Force of Nature has since been and is presently performed for student audiences in colleges and universities and for professional conferences throughout the United States and Canada. When booking the show, you will receive an all-campus advertising packet, including flyers, brochures, a pre-formatted electronic announcement for interdepartmental distribution and sample press releases.
Force of Nature has been performed at many venues, including:
Organizational Conferences
- Pacific Association for Labor Support (PALS), Seattle, Washington
- Doulas of North America (DONA), conference in California
- Midwifery Association of Washington State (MAWS), Seattle, Washington
- California Association of Midwives (CAM), California
- ABC Recovery Center Benefit Performance, Indio, California
Colleges and Universities
- Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle, Washington
- Lewis and Clark College, Portland, Oregon
- Eastern Oregon University, La Grande, Oregon
- Douglas College, New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
- Bastyr University, Seattle, Washington
- California State University, Long Beach, California
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Carole Groobman as "Wise Old Crone"
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Carole Groobman as "Sherry"
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Carole Groobman as "Wise Old Crone"
