How Oh! Calcutta! used nudity to affect culture
A controversial and influential play that broke taboos and challenged expectations around nudity and sexuality in the theatre
“Oh! Calcutta!” is an avant-garde play that premiered in Paris in 1969, crafted by several British authors including Samuel Beckett, John Lennon, Edna O’Brien, and brought to life by Kenneth Tynan. Composed of sketches, vignettes, and short plays, it explores themes of love, sexuality, and human relationships, and is notable for featuring full frontal nudity.
This groundbreaking work played to sold-out audiences in Paris, London, and New York, enjoying both critical and commercial success. It spurred numerous revivals and translations, credited with breaking taboos around nudity and sexuality in the theater. To this day, it remains a controversial and influential piece in modern theatre history.
One of the play's defining features was its all-nude cast, mixing male and female actors who performed fully naked. This major departure from traditional theatre helped shatter societal norms regarding nudity and sexuality on stage. Seen as both shocking and provocative, the choice contributed to the play's capacity to challenge and inspire its audience.
Additionally, the play was distinguished for its unconventional and experimental structure, which, when paired with its provocative themes, made it a unique and enduring influence in contemporary theatre.
"Oh! Calcutta!" stands as a testament to the potential of nudity as a tool for challenging societal norms, opening minds about sex, love, and the human condition, and inspiring both artists and audiences alike. 🪐
Thanks for the reminder of this play. I saw it in New York in 1979 and one of the actors was a known TV performer. It was about the time it was recorded and for a while you could get a video tape of the play. I understand that Sylvester Stallone was in it in its early days and those Playbill programs are quite the collector's item. It would be fun to see who performed in the play and what they went on to do professionally. The "Taking Off the Robe" segment was just so straightforward and to the point as each cast member came on stage in a big white bathrobe and then one by one and bit by bit they revealed themselves in many fun ways until they all dropped their robes. Once that was done, the nudity was less the focus but incorporated into the skits that were more sexually charged. When the traveling show came to Anchorage, Alaska there were major protests about the nudity on stage and the press made it very clear that the show had been challenged many times and as a piece of performance art the advice was if nudity offends you please do not attend. Easy.
The title, "Oh! Calcutta!" is a pun on the French phrase, "Oh! Quel cul t'as!", meaning, "Oh! What an ass you have!"