Three images in portrait format. From left to right; a person kneeling looking at the camera, someone holding a sample cup with the words 'semen' written, and a person pointing at the camera

First Trimester

Krishna Istha

1 - 11 November

This event has now passed

Information

Times: See listings below

Tickets:
Wed-Fri – Pay What You Can (Recommended Price £12)*
Sat – 8 Hour Tickets – Pay What You Can (Recommended Price £26)*
Sat – 2 Hour Tickets – Pay What You Can (Recommended Price £10)*

*all orders will be subject to a transaction fee of £2.

Running Times:
Wed-Fri – 3 Hours
Sat – 9 Hours (Including 1 hour break)

Age Recommendation: 18+

Please note: performances on 4 and 11 Nov will be filmed

This event takes place in person in the Council Chamber

This groundbreaking performance offers a rare opportunity to contribute to and witness queer family-making. Embark on a journey with performance artist Krishna Istha as they search for the ‘perfect’ sperm donor. The show will explore human connection and parenthood, and challenge expectations, redefining what it means to create a family as a transgender person.

In the World Premiere of this one-of-a-kind durational experience, First Trimester invites you to witness intimate live interviews between Krishna and 100s of participants over two weeks, in a quest to find them and their partner a sperm donor, or at least discover the qualities that bring them closer to their perfect match.

Krishna asks questions that range from funny to serious, from matter-of-fact information to philosophical perspectives in order to make the ultimate connection.

Audience members are invited to watch as the interviews unfold, but are also welcome to sign-up as a participant and prospective donor, regardless of their ability to donate sperm. We welcome participants aged 18 to 60+ from all backgrounds. Each interview is pivotal in helping Krishna inch closer to finding the right donor.

This is a durational performance. For weekday performances you can choose to stay for the full 3 hours. For Saturday performances you can either buy a ticket for the full 8 hours (plus a 1 hour break) or for 2 hour slots. You are welcome to come and go as you please with the slot you have selected.

INTERESTED IN BEING A PARTICIPANT? REGISTER HERE

PLEASE NOTE: by clicking on the above link and registering interest, you will leaving BAC’s website, and all correspondence will be directly with Krishna’s team.

Access

PRE EVENT INFORMATION

This event takes place in person in our Council Chamber. This space is on the first floor, with step-free access via a lift.

If you have booked a ticket you will receive an email from us before your performance detailing important information about your visit.

Please note, due to the format of the show, there may be a small wait of no more than 10 minutes to enter the space if you arrive after the start time.

PERSONAL ASSISTANT/COMPANION TICKETS

If you require the assistance of a friend or helper to attend, we can make a free ticket available for your companion. You can book access companion tickets online or contact the Box Office to book by emailing access@bac.org.uk.

To book a free access companion online:

log in to your account here
go to ‘Other preferences’ and tick ‘I require a personal assistant/companion’.
Choose the performance, date and seats you would like and if you add at least 2 tickets to your basket, then one of these will automatically become free.

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

BSL interpreted performance: 2 November, interpreted by Ali Gordon & 11 November, interpreted by Max Marchewicz and Ryan McLean.

Touch tour: 11 November, 11:30am and 4:30pm – Book your free ticket here

Audio described performance: 11 November, audio description guides will be made available for audiences. Interpreted by Adedamola Bajomo and Laura Edmonds.

An audio description of the stage and Krishna will be available via a QR code for every performance.

Audio Described Introduction by Vocal Eyes

Audio Described Introduction by Adedamola Bajomo

Audio Described Introduction – Text Version

Content

There will likely be moments of loud music and sounds

All performances will be Relaxed. We invite you to make yourself comfortable and move around if you need to and if you need to leave the performance at any point you will be allowed to return to the space when you feel ready.

Participant & audience care has been central to the development of the show and there will be a wellbeing practitioner on site at every performance.

PRE-SHOW INFORMATION (Wednesday – Friday PERFORMANCES)

PRE-SHOW INFORMATION (Saturday Performances)

VISIT OUR ACCESS PAGE

Credits

Krishna Istha is a London-based performance artist, comedian, theatre maker, and screenwriter. They create socially conscious, form-pushing works about taboo or underrepresented experiences of gender, race and sexual politics.

Currently, they are writing on Netflix’s ‘Sex Education’ (Season 4) and are a recipient of the Netflix Documentary Talent Fund. More recently, they were a Barbican Centre Open Lab artist (2021-22) and an Arts Admin Bursary Artist (2020-21).

They were one of two shortlisted writers for the Sky Arts & Royal Society of Literature Writers Awards under screenwriting (2022) and placed Runner-Up on Screenshot (2021), a competition for comedy writer-performers hosted by Sister Pictures and South of the River Pictures, and judged by Olivia Coleman, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Lolly Adefope & Rosie Jones.

Commissioned by Roundhouse, Battersea Arts Centre and Marlborough Productions.

Supported by Arts Council England.

Trailer

We want our shows to be as accessible to as many people as possible.

We offer tickets to most shows on a Pay What You Can basis throughout the year.

Tickets for Council Chamber performances in 2026 start at £9.50, and we have recommended pricing to help you choose a price that works for you.

We know that ticket price is a huge barrier for some. If you can afford to pay the recommended price or more, choosing to do so supports those that can’t. It makes it possible for us to continue to offer Pay What You Can and welcome those who otherwise wouldn’t be able to attend.