A bold new theatrical production is set to challenge deep-seated societal attitudes by placing the sex lives and intimate relationships of disabled people centre stage. The play, titled 'The Fourth Trimester', aims to provoke conversation and dismantle the widespread discomfort surrounding disability and sexuality.
Unflinching Exploration of Taboo Topics
Written by playwright Katherine Chandler, the production is a collaboration between Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Wales Millennium Centre. It promises an unflinching look at themes rarely explored with such honesty in mainstream theatre. The narrative follows a woman navigating the complexities of new motherhood while also dealing with the realities of her physical disability.
The central character's journey explicitly involves her sexual relationship with her husband, a dynamic often rendered invisible in popular culture. Chandler, who drew from her own experiences as a disabled woman, stated the work seeks to normalise the idea that disabled individuals are "whole, sexual beings". The play confronts the infantilisation of disabled adults and the pervasive assumption that they are asexual.
Industry Leaders Champion Authentic Representation
The production is directed by Chelsea Walker and will premiere in Cardiff in April 2026 before transferring to Birmingham. Its development has involved close consultation with disabled artists and communities to ensure authentic representation. This process is part of a growing movement within the UK arts sector to improve accessibility both on and off stage.
Arts organisations are increasingly recognising the need for stories that reflect the full spectrum of human experience, including the intimate lives of the one in five people in the UK who identify as disabled. By placing these narratives in the spotlight, theatre can play a powerful role in shifting public perception and fostering greater empathy and understanding.
A Catalyst for Broader Social Change
The play's creators hope it will act as a catalyst for broader conversation beyond the theatre walls. The societal reluctance to acknowledge disabled sexuality has tangible consequences, affecting everything from personal relationships and self-esteem to the provision of inclusive sex education and healthcare.
By boldly staging intimacy and desire from a disabled perspective, 'The Fourth Trimester' challenges audiences to examine their own biases. It asks a fundamental question: why is the idea of a disabled person having a fulfilling sex life still considered provocative? The answer, the play suggests, lies in a culture that has for too long sidelined and silenced these experiences.
This production joins a vital wave of work by disabled artists claiming space and demanding to be seen in all aspects of life, including love, partnership, and pleasure. Its success will be measured not just by critical acclaim, but by its power to make the personal political and spark lasting change in how society views disability and intimacy.
