The Reclaim Me Project

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK and is the most common cancer for women globally. In 2019, the UK had 54, 500 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed.

With the funding awarded by The Carnegie Trust, this project has grown from the written dissertation to dance workshops, creating a support network, staging a protest in an art gallery, and publishing a book for those newly diagnosed. 

Collaboration with The Carnegie Trust, Jack MacMillian, Illustrator Jenny Booth, Sadie Maskery, Rachael Louise Smith, Freja Hansen, Christine Howie, Hazel Salt, Anna Cheung, Holly Worton, Sarah Martin, Douglas Jay, Maria J. Monteiro, Linda Robertson, and The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Mentored by Laura Bissell

Images by Felipe Del Valla Batalla

The Reclaim Me Project is an ongoing research project. The project is assembled for women with breast cancer to have a space to reclaim their bodies without the male gaze or the medical gaze.

After my mother's diagnoses in summer 2019, I saw her confidence, belief, and self-worth slowly crumble.

Once a confident and charismatic woman, is now continually being referred to as an ill-patient:  As breasts are a symbol of womanhood and sexuality, it caused a massive strain on my mother to come to terms with the loss of her breast, and there seemed to be no support in or outside of the medical sector.

As a result, I questioned if any other women felt alone after their treatment and could use performance activism to create an awareness of this problem and implement real change.

 Full access to written research report is available to read. Contact me for more information.