University PhD student and lecturer Lauren Barri-Holstein on stage in Splat! (Picture: The Famous / Vimeo)

A group of first year university drama students have described the ‘surreal’ and ‘weird’ moment they were shown a graphic video featuring their lecturer naked, masturbating and urinating – all in the name of art.

Lauren Barri-Holstein, a PhD student and performance artist, showed the clip as part of an introduction to their latest drama module at Queen Mary University, east London.

Originally designed as promotional material for her controversial stage show Splat!, Ms Barri-Holstein’s ‘extreme’ video left several students shocked, according to The Tab.

‘I honestly didn’t know how to react,’ one unnamed student told the publication. ‘I don’t think I’ll ever be able to look her in the eye in person, it’s just weird.




‘It’s not even the fact we saw her lady parts, it’s the fact I literally have no idea how the clip was in any way related to this module.

‘It was just so extreme and I don’t understand why it was in any way necessary.’

WARNING: Full video contains adult content and scenes some may find distressing

The show is described as ‘feminist performance art concerned with the female body’ and features backing music by Leona Lewis and Nicole Scherzinger.

In the most powerful scenes, Ms Barri-Holstein is pictured pushing a condom out of her vagina, masturbating with a sword into another actress’ mouth, and swinging naked from the roof of the theatre covered in stage blood.

Despite the video’s controversial content, Ms Barri-Holstein was praised by another second-year student who called her ‘amazing’ and advised new students ‘not to be scared off by how open she is’.

Splat! features graphic female nudity, and scenes of urination and masturbation (Picture: The Famous LBH / Splat! / Vimeo)

‘Splat! is shocking and all, but it’s not completely without reason,’ they added.

Metro is awaiting comment from Ms Barri-Holstein and Queen Mary University.

SPLAT! I'm nervous. is it gonna suck? don't tell me if it does. see you on november 14th if you're special. pic.twitter.com/9snJPnHm — The Famous (@TheFamousLBH) October 25, 2012