ménage is the story of sex workers in Melbourne, Adelaide and the UK. It is a play about their personal lives and their professional lives. Based on interviews with writer Ryan Good, this visceral, honest piece of verbatim theatre aims to redefine how audiences think of sex workers and their work.
Taking place in a flat near the Melbourne Fringe Hub in North Melbourne, ménage will play to an audience of no more than two people at a time. Different performers will play the role of the sex worker each night, making the show a unique experience for every audience member.
An incredibly timely show. In Scotland, changing legislation has been damaging. Saunas no longer stock condoms, they can be used by police as evidence of sex work, and rates of infection are up, and the number of workers engaging with NHS services are down – for the first time in eight years, activist groups and legislatures continue to struggle to balance the enforcement of laws and the empowerment and protection of women in this industry.
Through ménage, Good aims to give a voice to sex workers around the world, and to convey a story that humanizes, softens, and challenges the audience’s view of the profession.
Ryan Good is an actor, writer, and director based in New Orleans. Previous solo shows in Melbourne include Sex With Animals and Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind. He also brings Cosmonaut and Stupid and Contagious to this year’s Melbourne Fringe.
ménage
Fringe Hub: Arts House, 521 Queensberry Street, North Melbourne
Performances continue to 1 October 2016
Information and Bookings: www.melbournefringe.com.au
Image: ménage