Super Short Summary

Venus reimagines the life of Saartjie Baartman, who, under the name the Hottentot Venus, was exhibited across Europe in the early 19th century. The play explores her exploitation by those who profited from displaying her and follows her journey from hopeful aspirations to tragic demise. Complex themes of exploitation, commodification, historical narratives, colonialism, and racism are central. The text discusses racism, enslavement, sexual coercion and assault, and death by suicide, as well as outdated terminology.