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Lady Lust
Birmingham Rep Door
**** THE REP’s Foundry programme is a platform for
theatre makers to hone their craft and create art for audiences to
contemplate, engage and come together. Writer and Performer
Sarah Hamilton Baker hails from this creatively-charged group and gave
her personal response to a topic that so often goes unsaid in her
production of Lady Lust
in Birmingham REP’s Door. Hamilton Baker is a thirty-year-old feminist who
watches porn. Hamilton talks about just that in this daring and
well-rounded piece. In her one-woman show, she analyses the world of
porn and modern day sex as well as telling us the impact this has to her
own sex life. Hamilton Baker is confident at talking about sex
and porn and knows that this may be a somewhat taboo subject for her
audience. With this, she aims to break down the embarrassing walls
straight away by showing us her naked breasts without any reserve to
tell us that this is the avenue we will be exploring and there is no
need to be embarrassed. Her set alludes to the typical visions of
pornography. As soon as we walk into the space the smell of plastic hits
us. Hamilton Baker then uses her set to back up her analytical
discussion using video’s and voiceovers of what she has found on the
journey projected onto flats which she moves and uses throughout the
performance. Hamilton Baker shares her own journey and
reactions to the porn industry to make the audience feel lees guarded in
approaching the subject. She compares her feminist views to the feelings
of guilt she felt watching porn and through this, her response is to let
the industry know how women can gain respect and most importantly, she
wants audiences to understand that there is a mutual consent from
performers. With the helpful direction of Anna Poole, through
comedic staging and a light-hearted approach, Hamilton Baker makes a
compelling point. Her research shines through and discusses with us her
findings, talking about the differences in the reactions with both men
and women porn viewers. She even dares to ask the audience who watches
porn and turns the house lights up which makes the audience laugh at
their own embarrassment, especially if they could have been there with
their mum, as she says. She makes solid points about how people perceive
the porn industry. She is not exclusive and she has perfected the
balance between making everybody feel welcomed and most importantly,
comfortable. There are brilliant comedy moments, especially when
describing what it is like to observe with a cucumber as a prop.
Hamilton Baker never forgets her point that the porn industry has a long
way to go. She leads an incredibly well informed and open
discussion, taking everyone into consideration. She does not look down
on those who watch porn or ridicule those who don’t. Her open mind is
refreshing and because of this we feel comfortable in all that she says
and does – including the nudity. Not only does Hamilton Baker educate the audience
so beautifully about sexuality, Hamilton Baker shares her own experience
for us to analyse our own. This is a shout out to the porn industry,
striving to ensure that it does not necessarily have to come with its
negative connotations. It is a cultural observation and a personal
journey. Hamilton Baker a great advocate for contemporary
theatre and modern feminism. The piece is about a subject that not many
people would care to talk about openly and freely, but Hamilton Baker’s
charm and boldness has the audience feeling elated and unrestricted. It
is as if we have just made a new friend with whom we can talk about
anything. To 23-01-16 Elizabeth Halpin
21-01-16
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