After taking one year off and spending one year half-on at best, the Edinburgh Fringe is finally back in a familiar, recognisable form. And, better still, there’s a new crop of filthy but fascinating shows about sex.
Here’s a selection of my favourite shows from 2022’s Fringe Festival lineup. This is just a small sample – feel free to leave your recommendations in the comments.
Spanking the Monkey: The Etymology of Onanistic Euphemisms
[ Spanking the Monkey Tickets ]
An hour-long lecture on wanking slang by the slightly unhinged, but charming and knowledgeable, Oxford professor Richard (Dick) Handler. This is a warm, funny, informative and relatively gentle early evening show. You’ll laugh. You’ll learn something. You’ll leave with a dozen new ways to talk about wanking.
C*nt!
[ C*nt! Tickets ]
Continuing in an etymological vein, writer and artist Becky Fury presents an hour ostensibly on the history of the word “cunt”. Actually, there’s very little history – and instead a lot of cunt puns and jokes about various politicians being cunts. Nonetheless, Fury is an engaging host and it’s a fun and anarchic way to spend an hour.
Plan V: The Joyful Cult of Pussy Worship
[ Plan V Tickets ]
On the subject of cunts, Plan V: The Joyful Cult of Pussy Worship imagines a future world in which cunnilingus is a vital and central part of a (mostly) utopian pleasure-centric culture. Comedian Eleanor O’ Brien delivers a hybrid lecture and sales pitch, espousing the almost-religious virtues of oral pleasure.
Jacqueline Novak: Get on Your Knees
This show, on the other hand, is all about blowjobs. It’s an excellently well-crafted combination of stand up and storytelling which manages – in under 60 minutes – to disassemble many preconceived societal notions about the act of sucking dick. Spectacularly amusing, beautifully written, and expertly delivered.
1972: The Future of Sex
[ 1972: The Future of Sex Tickets ]
1972: The Future of Sex is a piece of theatre firmly situated in the past – in the year 1972, to be precise. This short play tells the story of three couples having sex for the first time in a turbulent era of free love and polyester leisure suits. An intimate, knowing and witty look into the lives of several wonderfully authentic-feeling characters.
Awkward Sex… and the City with Natalie Wall
[ Awkward Sex and the City Tickets ]
A freewheeling night of storytelling about awkward sexual experiences – everything from misguided teenage attempts at erotic writing to embarrassing human bodies interrupting nights of passion. This is a warm and charming show that feels like it uses humour to reduce shame and embarrassment around awkward sexual encounters.
*
Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this, consider supporting me on Patreon for more stories and free stuff.
Your support will allow me to keep on writing things like this!
Be First to Comment