Venus

Venus is a play by Suzan-Lori Parks, published in 1996 and first performed the same year. Suzan-Lori Parks is a notable American playwright, known for works such as Topdog/Underdog, as well as screenplays, such as Girl 6 and Their Eyes Were Watching God. Venus reimagines the life of Saartjie Baartman, also known as Sarah Baartman, who was shown in exhibits across Europe as the Hottentot Venus in the early 19th century. The play addresses themes of The Exploitation and Commodification of Black Female Bodies, The Construction and Manipulation of Historical Narratives, and Colonialism and Racism as Motivations and Obsessions.

The initial production of Venus was produced by George C. Wolfe and ran for 22 performances at the Joseph Papp Public Theater in New York. Venus was also performed in 2017 at the Signature Theater in New York, directed by Lear deBessenot. The play won the 1995-96 Obie Award. Adina Porter, who played Saartjie Baartman in the original 1996 performance, also won an Obie for Distinguished Performance by an Actress.

This guide uses the e-book Kindle edition, published by the Theatre Communications Group in 1997.

Content Warning: This guide describes and discusses the text’s treatment of racism, enslavement, sexual coercion and assault, and death by suicide, as well as racist language and outdated terminology for race and gender.