Search

Saved articles

You have not yet added any article to your bookmarks!

Browse articles

GDPR Compliance

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service.

Lady Wank (And Other Fairytales For Adults)

 
Billie Eliot Turner Review by Billie Eliot Turner 2 Published: 16 Mar 2020 Werks Central Show Dates: 8 Mar 2020-8 Mar 2020

Marketed as a comedic, feminist fairytale mashup, the concept of Lady Wank (And Other Fairytales For Adults) offered much potential. Sadly that expectation was left unfulfilled. With an hour to play with, the company brought some fairly dead material to Brighton's FemFest 2020 Programme.

Laughter seemed to be reluctant and awkward.

Audience participation was encouraged on entrance into the auditorium and ensuing laughter seemed to be reluctant and awkward. The production's message was in questioning the central figure's feminism in the face of sexual submission. This question was initially depicted in sexualised fairytale scenes and then turned suddenly into a conversation in which writer and performer Julia Quayle's audience members posed as her feminist self and her vagina. While the idea could have taken off, in reality the script didn't quite add up. The performance failed to join the dots and convey the message that presumably was meant. This was a collection of thoughts that lacked a consistent backbone rather than a well-rounded thought provoking performance. I was hoping to leave the theatre thinking further about what it means to be both a feminist and in desire for submissive sexual practise. Instead I felt none the wiser and probably more confused than before.

Julia Quayle's performance however was strong, with a wealth of very impressive and convincing accents and interesting characters under her belt. This was a production that would have felt at home amongst Edinburgh's Free Fringe programme, alongside many other performers divulging into areas around feminism and the body. Sadly I won't be recommending this production to a friend.

Related to this article:

Location:

Performances

The Blurb:

A fun batch of fairy tales for adults, including: ‘Lady Wank’:Amber is a feminist, but is she a bad feminist? No really, is she? She wants to know. A comedic short play about a feminist who fantasises about sexual submission. There are many examples of women who are turned on by being dominated in media but these female characters are usually written by men, for men and aren’t usually proud feminists. ‘Lady Wank’ presents the neurotic feminists perspective. This tale and more...