Nipplegate Exploration – Nine Sixteenths – Comes to Bristol

Paula Varjack’s show – which is coming to Tobacco Factory Theatres – revisits the 2004 Nipplegate incident

The incident only lasted nine sixteenths of a second, but systemic racism and sexism meant Janet Jackson’s career would come crashing to a standstill.

The year was 2004 and the incident was dubbed Nipplegate. The singer was performing with Justin Timberlake during the Super Bowl half time entertainment. At the culmination of the performance, a wardrobe malfunction occurred. Timberlake pulled off part of Jackson’s costume exposing the singer’s right breast live to audiences both at the stadium and at home.

The controversy that followed saw Jackson’s projects cancelled as she was sidelined by the industry for years. Timberlake’s career was not similarly affected.

Theatre maker Paula Varjack is revisiting the incident with her show Nine Sixteenths, which is coming to Bristol as part of a major UK tour in 2026.

She calls Janet Jackson a “game changer” who made waves on her “own terms”.

“Janet Jackson was a tremendous icon to me, at a time when I had relatively few black female artists to look to,” Paula says.

“After her ‘wardrobe malfunction’ the music industry let her down. The show also looks at why role models matter and the lack of older female role models of colour – against the role that the largely white male media executives play in deciding who thrives in mainstream pop culture.”

The incident is the starting point for an exploration into how Black and middle-aged women are treated by the media. It’s staged in what is described as an ‘entertainingly fun way’ and performed by four Black women aged over 40.

Alongside Varjack, the cast includes Movement Director Pauline Mayers, Choreographer Julienne Doko and Theatre Maker Chia Phoenix.

Direction is by Emily Aboud with sound design by Alicia Jane Turner.

The show will be going on a journey from The Malfunction, The Aftermath and Reclamation.

Expect pop culture, turn of the century nostalgia, stadium concerts, dance and lip sync as we see the pivotal role Janet Jackson played in creating the space for those who came after.

Nine Sixteenths will be at Tobacco Factory Theatres 09 – 10 February 2026

All tour dates feature British Sign Language by Jacqui Beckford and Vinessa Brant as an integral part of the production.

For more information or to book, visit: https://tobaccofactorytheatres.com/shows/nine-sixteenths/

Home: https://backstagebristol.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backstagebristol/
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@chopsybristoltt
Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/backstagebristol/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/backstagebristol
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/chopsybaby