A PLAY exploring how men talk about women in men-only spaces tours venues across Scotland this month, following sell-out performances at the Edinburgh Festival, Latitude Festival and the Abbey Theatre, Dublin.
Award-winning theatre-maker Gary McNair created Locker Room Talk in response to the way US President Donald Trump attempted to explain away his notorious “grab them by the p***y” comment as characteristic of the way men speak about women in sports changing rooms.
McNair wanted to uncover whether such sexually abusive rhetoric was an aberration or a common part of men’s lives and set about interviewing hundreds of men across the country, from building sites and prisons to offices and doctor’s surgeries.
All participants were given complete anonymity and were told their words being recorded and could potentially be used as part of a play.
The words of the men are relayed to the audience of Locker Room Talk by four female actors, often with humorous – and at times disturbing – results.
This tour will see new recruits Nicola Roy and Gabriel Quigley joining two who have appeared in previous versions of the verbatim play: Jamie Marie Leary and Maureen Carr, well known to fans of TV’s Still Game as Edith.
The play was performed at the Scottish Parliament in November 2016. Months later, lawyer Aamer Anwar described the sexual harassment of women at Holyrood as a “ticking time bomb”, and in March last year First Minister Nicola Sturgeon reacted with disappointment to a survey which found that one in three women working at Holyrood had experienced sexual harassment or sexist behaviour.
“When we did it there, it certainly felt like a moment, that it was part of a wider conversation that was just beginning to be had,” McNair, above, says. “We feel it’s important to keep having this conversation; it’s sadly still very relevant.”
Locker Room Talk completed a run in Berlin just days ago and McNair reports that fellow theatre makers will use his script in the coming months for shows in England, Russia, Australia and the US.
An integral part of Locker Room Talk is the discussion with the audience that takes place after the performance.
McNair says the show’s highly-charged and often sexually violent content means audience members appreciate a space for reflection and sharing afterwards.
“The audiences are very vocal everywhere,” he says. “This piece is unapologetic and they need a release afterwards. It’s not like a well-made play where the baddie gets their comeuppance and the goodie saves the day. Instead, it starts a conversation about society. It becomes a collective experience, a shared moment for everyone.”
April 17, Dundee Rep Theatre, 7:30pm, £15, £10 to £13 concs. Tel: 01382 223530. www.dundeerep.co.uk; Apr 18, Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling, 7.30pm, £15, £6 to £13.50 concs. Tel: 01786 466666. www.macrobertartscentre.org; Apr 19, Lemon Tree Theatre, Aberdeen, 7pm, £13.20. Tel: 01224 641122. www.aberdeenperformingarts.com; Apr 23 to 24, Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, 7.30pm, £9, £7 concs. Tel: 0131 228 1404. www.traverse.co.uk; Apri 25 to 27,Tron Theatre, Glasgow, 7:45pm, £11 to £17. Tel: 0141 552 4267. www.garymcnair.co.uk @TheGaryMcNair #LockerRoomTalkPlay
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