A pink bodybag wriggles and squirms its way across the stage, an opening that will live long in the memory. Dramatic and comedic, it encouraged curiosity at the same time. Eventually our protagonist emerges from the shabby cocoon to take her place at what resembles a teacher’s desk festooned with microphones. This is none other than Josie Dale-Jones, who, frustrated at the poor, nay, terrifying quality and tone of sex education tried to put together a production that might major on the positive aspects of relationships and sex, aimed at families. It was evident this might attract some criticism but what followed from the trolls and keyboard warriors far exceeded her worst nightmares. A petition was launched, garnering 41,000 signatures, leading to the production being cancelled… before anyone had seen it… before it was even finished. A petition, it’s pointed out, with origins in Christian movements in Spain and the US. It seems just the ‘idea’ was enough to stir the Daily Mail readers and modern-day Mary Whitehouses outrage in the UK and this was the key takeaway; that so many half-truths (and non-truths), lacking any context, are swallowed by so many. Also, possibly, that the planet (the UK, certainly), still isn’t ready to talk about these subjects openly.
The first half is Josie telling this story, punctuated with clips of the aforementioned outrage and some self-reflection that hindsight prompts. Though hard-hitting, it’s not without humour. There’s an effective use of a lighting rig hauled onto the stage to an eerie, disturbing soundtrack and another striking moment involving the safety curtain before she cavorts in a gold lame outfit, highlighting what she believes people expect of her as an actor/writer/producer; some lightweight song and dance.
Then the performance takes a deep dive into a dialogue, at points surreal, between her and her doctor boyfriend, the frustration, stress and paranoia overwhelming and disorientating. This was the sensation departing from the theatre tonight. It was thought-provoking, frustrating (on her behalf) but also perplexing. One wonders whether the biggest villains were the Arts Council for abandoning the project so quickly in the face of threats and criticism; they have since refused to grant any support for 11 more proposals from Dale-Jones and there is a sinister back story involving some communications from members of the House Of Lords. At least it was awarded a Fringe First in 2024, but is there any hope on the horizon regarding social media’s addiction to trivial, false nonsense?
Reviewer: Roger Jacobs
Reviewed: 24th April 2025
North West End UK Rating: