Don’t complain about a non-binary Joan of Arc until you’ve seen the show for yourself-Ugla Stefanía Kristjönudóttir Jónsdóttir-Entertainment – Metro

As a trans person, and a woman, I felt seen in theatre, which is sadly a rare occurrence (Picture: Helen Murray)

It seems that controversy follows the patron saint Joan of Arc even to this day, as a recent play depicting Joan as non-binary caused quite the splash online – weeks before it even premiered. 

Social media was flooded with complaints that women were being ‘erased’ and that a powerful historical figure was being taken away by ‘gender ideology’.

These complaints were obviously ill-placed, as none of them had even seen the play at that point – and I felt frustrated that people were so quick to condemn something without having the full picture, although I wasn’t surprised. 

But instead of taking my uninformed anger to Twitter in defence of the production, I simply decided to go see the play before making any judgments – and it was an absolute triumph. 

I, Joan explores Joan’s life as an inspiring figure to anyone that has ever felt unheard, or made to feel less for who they are. It explores womanhood, power dynamics, gender expectations and identity.

The plot largely follows Joan’s story in history, albeit in a very free interpretation, and her struggles of getting acknowledged and accepted by powerful men, who routinely diminish and dismiss her for being a woman. 

Eventually Joan gets accepted as a non-binary leader of the charge, and the play shows their victories, losses, and ultimately their demise through powerful monologues, interactions, interpretative dance and impressive acrobatics.

As a trans person, and a woman, I felt seen in theatre, which is sadly a rare occurrence. 

Positive depictions of trans people on stage are still few and far between, and there’s a lot to be said about seeing yourself represented in a place like Shakespeare’s Globe. 

I also couldn’t help but smile to myself as, on this very stage, men would’ve previously played women before actresses were allowed to – and now, we were seeing a defiant and beautiful piece play out that would’ve been unthinkable only decades earlier.

No one is erasing a woman in history because a theatre performance chooses to interpret and explore gender and identity through Joan’s story (Picture: The Globe)

What struck me the most after seeing the play was that, ironically, both the original Joan and I have been controversial for the same things – namely for not conforming to deep-rooted gender expectations and perceptions of others. 

Back in 1431, it’s suspected that Joan was tried for heresy and questioned about wearing ‘men’s clothing’ and not adhering to what was expected of her as a woman – yet, critics are now claiming that thinking of Joan’s gender identity as something beyond being a woman is ‘woke’ politics and ‘violating history’.

The play has received many positive reviews, too, celebrated for its ability to tell Joan’s story in a new light – but, just like back in the 15th century, Joan is still being ripped apart by some for her individuality, non-conformity, expression and imagination. 

No one is erasing a woman in history because a theatre performance chooses to interpret and explore gender and identity through Joan’s story. 

The saint will still remain as one of the most powerful women in history, and continue to serve as an inspiration to people across the world. The play is simply asking the question of: what if there was more to it? 

In 15th century Europe, the language of being a non-binary trans person didn’t exist – but it would be inaccurate to say that no one existed that might have fitted that description. There are many figures in history, like Joan, that have defied rigid gender expectations and lived in defiance to patriarchal standards of gender. 

There were people such as 5th Century Smaragdus of Alexandria, a Greek saint that moved to a monastery and lived as a male monk until their death. Other figures include people like the Public Universal Friend, who was said to have been reborn as a genderless spirit – who never conformed to gender expectations. 

Historically, the interpretation of Joan wearing men’s clothing is often said to be a practical one – that she had to in order to be taken seriously as a military leader in a patriarchal world. As Joan is quoted saying: ‘It was necessary’. 

While that might have been the case, I’m glad this play explored a different narrative; something that takes into account the complexity of gender non-conformity and identity. 

Beyond just the practicality of having to wear men’s clothes and take on what was seen as a masculine role, the play made me think that Joan could have experienced a sense of liberation as a result, and it might have had an impact on her that we will never truly know. 

Exploring those parallels with historical figures like Joan is hugely interesting (Picture: Getty Images)

So while Joan might have simply seen herself as a woman, it would be foolish to deny that defying such ingrained and deep-rooted expectations didn’t have some form of impact on her. Joan might’ve said it was ‘necessary’, but it was also a way for Joan to be something beyond who she was assigned at birth and seen as by society. 

It is a fact that many trans people use different forms of expression to explore their gender identity, such as putting on clothing that has typically been denied to them due to the sex and gender they were assigned at birth.

Exploring those parallels with historical figures like Joan is hugely interesting, and allows us to ask questions about how history is written, and by whom. 

But of course, identity runs a lot deeper than just clothing, and is about how you experience your inner sense of self, and the euphoria you feel when you look a certain way, or when your body changes in ways that make you happy. 

How Joan experienced her inner sense of self is something we can never truly know – but no one is harmed by artistic exploration of her identity and what she stood for as a person. 

Joan is a historical figure that can belong to all of us, and mean different things. That is the beauty of art, imagination and the human experience – we don’t all see things the same way. 

The fact people were denouncing the play before it even came out is very indicative of their views about transgender people in general and how our issues are framed in both mainstream media, and on social media.

People don’t seem to bother looking into things, like transgender issues, and giving it a chance – instead, things are simply denounced and the debate immediately becomes polarised. 

The play is about exploring things beyond gender expectations both then and now, and asking the question about who Joan was beyond gender. It’s asking questions like: how did Joan truly feel about her gender? How much of that was other people’s interpretations of Joan? What if the language at the time was too limiting, too rigid, and too oppressive to articulate who Joan was?

These are all worthy questions to ask and explore through the lens of art, and they allow us to continue shining a light on how limiting these patriarchal standards of gender are.

Many people will see themselves reflected in the show, whether that’s women who’ve been told they shouldn’t do something, or can’t dress a certain way – or queer people that don’t fit into heteronormative gender expectations who constantly have to fight to be seen. 

So before people make judgments, I recommend they go see it. It might open your mind to a different viewpoint, or a different way of understanding gender. At the very least, you will have spent your evening watching a thought-provoking and well-written piece that celebrates an incredible historical figure.

What the play does so beautifully is that it allows all of us to see ourselves reflected, without gatekeeping who can or cannot relate to Joan’s story. It can belong to all of us at the same time.

That’s not erasure, but enrichment. 

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk. 

Share your views in the comments below.

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