Taking Down Clara F. Gorge Thyra Jansen

In Taking Down Clara F. Gorge, theatre maker and musician Thyra Jansen combines their love for chick flicks with a queer perspective. Inspired by American high school films from the 2000s, Thyra and two musicians create a coming-of-queer musical.

At first glance, the show seems like a typical chick flick, with cheerleaders, dramatic breakups, and a high school band. But as Thyra plays out the story, they become more and more entangled in the scenes. The question arises: Is this still a movie, or is this actually about me?

With humor, music and self-reflection, Thyra investigates whether the chick flick genre offers space for queer stories, which are often forgotten. By incorporating their own story into this, they show that queer people also belong in this world of drama, gender roles and heteronormative storylines.

This performance reclaims the genre and shows that even within fixed frameworks there is room for new perspectives and identities. Taking Down Clara F. Gorge offers a fresh, playful look at pop culture and invites queer people to recognize themselves in entertainment that is often seen as 'mainstream'. A musical and moving discovery of the role you play in your own life.