Scotland

The State of Grace – Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh

Aussie, Michaela Burger (A Migrant’s Son) is at her core a consummate storyteller, and no stranger to the Edinburgh Fringe. Through the mediums of video, music, song, prose and acting she returns to Edinburgh Fringe for the 4^th time, supported by House of Oz to tell the story, the legacy, of fellow Adelaidian, Pippa O’Sulliven. Pippa, AKA ‘Grace Bellavue’ a sex worker, rose to meteoric fame and notoriety on social media before her untimely suicide at just 28, in 2015.

Michaela has clearly researched hard, into the archive of Pip, talked to her parents and friends and traced the considerable digital footprint that Grace left. Pippa’s dream, to ‘Build the Grace Business’, learn Physics, savour food and make love did not turn out quite the way she planned, but from this evidence she had quite a life, and a lasting legacy.

Using a mixture of video, spoken word and song, and using Pippa’s own extensive writings, musings and posts from twitter to TED talks, Burger sets out to celebrate and demystify the sex worker industry and convince her audience that full decriminalisation of the sex industry, the world’s oldest profession, is probably long overdue.

Part lecture, part gig theatre, this is educational as well as entertaining. The ‘Nordic model’ is discussed, where sex workers are not treated as criminals, but those that pay for the services are. Initially introduced into Sweden in 1999 and adopted by several countries since, there seems to be a clear correlation between increased rates of criminality and suicide in the countries that have implemented it.

A stunning and emotional performance by Burger is at the heart of this production. In what is a highly technical show relying on expertly provided lighting, video and sound it is the humanity that shines through.

Once there was a bored girl called Pip, who became a brave girl called Grace. This thought provoking work makes you question societal attitudes towards sex, the industry that provides it and the motives of all involved.

Till Sunday 24th August 2024 (not every day – check dates), https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on#q=%22The%20State%20of%20Grace%22

Note: 18+worker, prolific,

Reviewer: Greg Holstead

Reviewed: 2^nd August 2024

North West End UK Rating: