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Nine Sixteenths at Warwick Arts Centre

  • Writer: Dave Freak
    Dave Freak
  • 13 minutes ago
  • 3 min read
Nine Sixteenths cast. Photo by Christa Holka.
Nine Sixteenths cast. Photo by Christa Holka.

Nine Sixteenths: Inspired by Janet Jackson, created by Paula Varjack, a fast, fun, multimedia examination of iconic black female role models featuring the rise, fall and rise again of Janet Jackson.

Runs 60 mins. At Warwick Arts Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry on Thursday 12 February 2026 at 7.45pm.

Preview

 

At the 2004 Superbowl, Justin Timberlake exposed Janet Jackson’s breast and nipple to a huge live TV audience for nine sixteenths of a second. This brief moment derailed Jackson’s career for many years, while Timberlake’s thrived.


Nine Sixteenths unpacks the rise, fall and rise again of global pop superstar Jackson, and what this has to say about how black women are treated by the media. Created by artist/theatre-maker Paula Varjack, it explores coming of age in the 1990s and how hugely influential Jackson was, especially for young black women. It’s fast, fun and hugely entertaining - the venue and audience are transported to a world of stadium concerts and TV studios. It takes the audience on a journey, exploring themes of representation and pop culture with a nostalgia for the early 00’s, and the hopes and dreams of four black female performers through a visual variety of devised theatre, dance and lip sync.

 

It amply demonstrates how Jackson helped shape our contemporary cultural landscape, paving the way for artists such as Britney Spears, Beyoncé, and Rihanna - and shows how a struggling video-sharing site called YouTube started to attract clicks when it became the place to rewatch the incident!

 

After premiering with a two-week run at London’s Pleasance Theatre the show embarks on an extensive UK tour in Feb, March and May 2026 culminating in 10 days at London’s Brixton House.


Paula Varjack. Photo by Christa Holka.
Paula Varjack. Photo by Christa Holka.

 

Paula said: "Janet Jackson was a tremendous icon to me at a time when I had relatively few black female artists to look to. She was a game changer in so many ways - and did it on her terms. After her ‘wardrobe malfunction’ the music industry let her down, in ways so effective that many thought her career faded away. Yet she kept working, making music and films. Now, finally, the injustice of what happened is being recognised. In the end, it’s the art that matters. As an iconic role model for many black women, and an outspoken ally for the LGBTQI+ community she made great art. The show also looks at why role models matter and the lack of older female role models of colour and the role that (largely) white male media executives play in deciding who thrives in mainstream pop culture."

 

Who was invested in the backlash, and became obsessed with blocking Jackson’s success? Who joked over her humiliation? How have all those involved profited since? 

 

Nine Sixteenths is directed by Evening Standard Future Theatre Award Winner, RTST Peter Hall Award Shortlisted and twice JMK Award Shortlisted Emily Aboud. It features a cast of four black 40+ women. Joining Paula are Pauline Mayers (also Movement Director); acclaimed Copenhagen based choreographer Julienne Doko ; RSC and National Theatre performer, writer, director and creative arts activist/therapist/practitioner Chia Phoenix. Devised by the cast and Endy McKay. Sound design is by Alicia Jane Turner who has been commissioned by the London Philharmonia Orchestra, the London Sinfonietta, Spitalfields Music and National Sawdust (New York).

 

Nine Sixteenths, Warwick Arts Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7FD

 

 

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