Desperately seeking sperm, seriously
Krishna Istha was intrigued to see that online sperm donor sites, in Britain at least, list those traits as key parts of prospective donors' bios, almost as selling points.
It led the London-based Sex Education writer/performer and partner Logan Rea – a trans couple, neither of whom produce sperm – on a journey to find their own donor and develop their own set of questions (and no, being a jock isn't one), coming up with a very novel process through which to identify them.
'It's like a series of first dates – live on stage – for a friend who gives sperm,' Istha says, laughing.
First Trimester, to be staged at this year's Melbourne Fringe Festival, invites interested parties to join the show, which will see Istha interview dozens of potential donors (aged over 18) live on stage, quizzing them about everything from philosophy to pop culture. The list of questions numbers about 400 and it was put together by the couple with others who have gone through the process of seeking a donor.
Some questions are spiritual (what do you think happens when we die?); some are about personality type (do you like to plan or go with the flow?); some address parenting specifically (do you want children of your own?); while others are more random (what's your favourite way to move your body?). Most importantly, Istha wonders, have you watched The Princess Diaries?
It sounds terrifying - first dates alone fill many people with fear, but live on stage and with such high stakes, I wonder how many people are keen to be involved. Many, as it turns out: there is already a shortlist of candidates thanks to the show's staging in London, Dublin, Copenhagen and Auckland.
'People who have done it have always loved it, once you get into it,' says Istha, who appeared in Hannah Gadsby's Gender Agenda on Netflix. 'It sounds serious, scary and maybe even a bit sensationalist but because of the way the questions are framed we have a lot of laughs, there's a lot of levity in it.
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