University lecturer plays students X-rated video of herself

Actress Lauren Barri-Holstein screens clip of explicit production - featuring graphic female nudity - to first-year students at Queen Mary University of London

Queen Mary, University of London
Lauren Barri-Holstein lectures at Queen Mary University of London

University drama students were stunned when their lecturer played them an X-rated video of performance theatre - showing her vagina.

Lauren Barri-Holstein screened a clip of her production Splat!, which features graphic female nudity.

As part of the introductory presentation to her Theatre and its Others module at Queen Mary University of London, the actress and PhD student showed first-year students the explicit material.

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The graphic clip was described by Ms Barri-Holstein as "feminist performance art concerned with the female body".

The intimate performance shows her inserting a knife handle into her vagina and throwing red tomatoes at the blade, giving birth to a small, plastic Bambi figurine, and inflating a condom.

Ms Barri-Holstein, creator of theatre company The Famous, said the work - which also shows scenes in which she urinated on stage and dangled naked from a harness - is relevant to her teaching module.

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A drama student, speaking to student newspaper The Tab, said: "It was surreal. I honestly didn't know how to react. I don't think I'll ever be able to look her in the eye in person, it's just weird.

"It's not even the fact we saw her lady parts, it's the fact I literally have no idea how the clip was in any way related to this module.

"It was just so extreme and I don't understand why it was in any way necessary."

However, another fresher said: "I understand her aim is to actively gross out the audience and challenge us, which does actually make sense.

"She's really passionate about exposing our socially ingrained expectations, so I'm going to suspend my judgement and wait until I get to know her better as a teacher."

The east London university describes the class as a way in which students can learn how to replicate other forms of artistic expressionism on stage.

The syllabus reads: "This module looks at what is specific to the form of theatre, by exploring how to achieve, in theatre, effects and meanings found in other art-forms.

"It conducts this by means of a practical exploration of the processes and techniques for adapting other material into theatre, supported by relevant readings, screenings, visits and performances as appropriate.

"It is taught through staff-led workshops, a group practical project and seminar discussion, and is assessed through the group project and two pieces of critical writing."