This is not a 'show' in the generally accepted meaning of the word. It is not an artifice. It is something which must immediately be seen the length and breadth of the country in as many places as possible. It is a hugely important hour that gives a platform for voices which are pretty much unheard in the mainstream.
A brilliant bit of political outreach, perfectly executed by two extraordinary women
It is fascinating and funny, enlightening and entertaining. Gypsy and Stacey are strippers – no, not pretend strippers, real strippers. And we spend an hour with them asking anything and everything any of us has ever wanted to ask a stripper. We are met by Stacey outside. She is all fuck-me shoes and Essex vowels. She is everything an onstage English stripper might be thought to be. Upstairs is Gypsy – an earthy, no nonsense Edinburgher with all the confidence of a woman who knows exactly what she is doing, and how, and to whom. VIPs get a bottle of Lambrini to share, hoi polloi have to bring their own.
They warm up, chat up and set up the hour expertly and with absolute charm and with such total ease with their nakedness that the audience is at ease too. And so the questions come – we start with 'most embarassing thing you have had happen...', 'weirdest place you have ever stripped...' but the woman are adept at steering the conversation and soon we are learning about exploitation of those in the sex inductry by club owners, the drive towards autonomy for the workers and their recent, hard won, unionisation. As we talk, the broad accents disappear and we meet the real women behind the stripper personae. University educated and political activists both. Pushing for proper workers rights and respect for themselves and those with whom they work.
It is a brilliant bit of political outreach, perfectly executed by two extraordinary women, and a hugely enjoyable hour. As is evident by the reactions of the audience as we leave, it is also a real eye opener for many.
