Breastless.
A wry, poetic, yet unflinching story of loss and retrieval.
With riveting, intimate storytelling, and the addition of continuous line drawings from Sarah Guest, Emma shares vulnerable detail of life as a woman in our culture, with a wry wit and pathos befitting the tale.
Breastless is a poignant story of culture’s impact on women, told through the lens of a breast cancer diagnosis. This far-too-common story is told in a breathtakingly beautiful manner; at times, heartwarmingly humorous, even within the sorrows and shocks. It draws you into the intimate details, yet Emma’s ability to weave a path through the darkness and then guide us back into the light is a shining example of the resilience of women and the power of community.
Breastless was created with the support of The Sunset Theatre in Wells in 2018. After multiple revisions, and presentations in BC and the US, the story is now artistically enhanced for a live audience via collaboration with visual artist, Sarah Guest. Sarah’s continuous line drawing and visual representation on screen provides layered beauty to delight in as it anchors the script.
Content Warning: includes mention of Sexual and Medical Assault.
“I am glad you are bringing this out to the world…we are honoured, and it is important for our young doctors to hear.” - Dr Jeffrey Rediger, Harvard Medical School
Staged live in the US and Canada, plus online seminars, including for Harvard Medical School, and Oncology Social Workers of Australia and New Zealand.
NEXT DATES:
14 March 2026 3PT/6ET - Virtual Performance on Zoom
22 APRIL 2026 - Webinar for OSWANZ, Australia
25 April 2026 7PT
Knox Centre, Prince George, BC, Canada
Tickets here.
PLUS 26 April 2026 - Art as Resilience
A unique opportunity to work with the artists of Saturday night's performance of Breastless at The Knox Centre, Prince George.
More information and tickets here.
“Brave, surprising and beautiful - wild and wolf-like.”
Doon Mackichan, Bafta award-winning actress and comedian
UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS:
Virtual Performance on Zoom - March 14 2026
Knox Centre, Prince George - 25 April 2026
My Vision & Mission for Breastless
“I am left here asking; what do I cherish about myself? My body? My mind? Or something more?”
I hope to encourage everyone to ask themselves this question.
I urge us all to compassionately consider what role our stories and resultant behaviours might play in our physiology, our health and our diagnoses.
I am passionate about doing my part to change the mainstream narrative on breast cancer and society’s objectification of breasts.
I hold a vision of increased research into and implementation of the prevention of causes of breast cancer.
I want to open a dialogue that contributes to the healing of our assumption that expert medical authority is paramount and instead put medical expertise within the context of a patient’s sovereignty and responsibility for their health and wellbeing.
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“The whole piece was so relatable, even though I have a different cancer. Thank you for gathering this circle to hear your story and for reminding us that we are not alone. It was cathartic and healing.”
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“I am a nurse and you helped me remember what an honor and privilege it is to walk beside others on their healing journey.”
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"Breastless is a vulnerably authentic journey through crisis and the self, all the while navigating the western medical system. Accessible to any human who possesses a heart, it is a story that must be told and heard."
Book an event for your community
Told in theatres, medical training centres, yoga studios, festival tents, and bookstores. Open to invitations!
Online screenings are possible.
Full-length or abridged, Breastless can be tailored to your needs. Emma also gives talks for breast cancer group fundraisers and conferences. Follow-up writing workshops can also be scheduled.