Content warning: Brief mentions of sexual assault, child sexual assault and child sex slavery.

When waiting in the foyer of BATS Theatre to watch Pulsión – a Sensory Universe, audience members are invited to put small items from their pockets into a miniature treasure chest and promised their belongings will be returned after the show. Various items are offered including keys, an asthma inhaler and coins. We are informed these items will be used as props during the show.

The atmosphere in the Stage space is quite literally red. A red carpet is in the centre, with two small tables on either side covered with red cloths. Even the lighting is completely red. This sets the mood for an energetic performance.

The show begins with Pulsión’s creator and performer, Andrea Ferpo, emerging in the same bright red and performing a dance to lively, upbeat, Latin American music. Ferpo’s rhythmic dancing is addictive and joyful. She eventually makes her way to the miniature treasure chest and opens it, inspecting its contents. Ferpo tells us the show will explore Women’s stories and the roles society forces them into. Suddenly, the abundance of red begins to conjure up new contrasting thoughts of passion and blood. The set and lighting design are clearly masterfully chosen.

Ferpo select items from the chest and uses them to perform and inspire scenes. These improvised scenarios are broken up with personal moments where Ferpo steps out of the scenario and speaks about a personal experience that has some connection to what she is performing. In particular she uses three items from the chest and connects each to a main theme or storyline and switches between these throughout.

The first item Ferpo seems especially interested in is an asthma inhaler. She uses it to beautifully perform confronting scenes about assault, sexual assault and child sex slavery. Ferpo switches between playing many characters, including a young child watching her parents fight while she struggles to breathe and a insanely creepy older character who eventually gets arrested for inappropriate photography of children. Ferpo also mentions within this section the unhealthy pressure placed on men to enjoy sex at a young age.

While the show focuses on women’s stories, it is fantastic that Ferpo is also including the stories of men being forced in to roles by society. The story told through the inhaler is important and powerful. However, although Ferpo utilises the inhaler beautifully it does seem odd that she puts the inhaler in her mouth throughout the performance as it belongs to an audience member. Additionally, although the BATS website does include a content warning, stating the show is for audiences age 16 and above, it may have been a good idea to specify that the content if Pulsión – a Sensory Universe may relate to sexual abuse and child sexual abuse.

The next item Ferpo utilises is a piece of chocolate. She turns this into a chocolate found by teenage students at a ‘nun School‘. This chocolate turns out to be laced with marijuana, the entire reason for procuring the chocolate, and Hijinks ensue. A highlight of this section is when Ferpo prepares to consume the chocolate, steps out of character while laughing to tell the audience she wishes she wasn’t a vegan, then steps back into character to – reluctantly, but willingly – eat the chocolate. The audience applauds her dedication to her character. This section is funny and much more light-hearted and breaks up the tension from the heavier inhaler story.

The last item utilized is perfume, which Ferpo uses to tell the story of a girl wanting to spend time with her boyfriend, despite her parents’ strict rules. She wants to have a baby with her boyfriend, though it’s clear to the audience she may not exactly be sure how to make that baby. 

Ferpo manages to convey an important message while being true to herself and making sure there are lighter moments among the heavier topics. The way she switches between Spanish and English in the show adds to its charm. Furthermore, Ferpo often asks the audience if they understand what she is trying to say. Though this is clearly because English is not her first language, the seamless and charming way she does it builds a sense of connection to the audience and adds to the atmosphere.

Ferpo’s charm is supplemented by her brilliant adaptability and performance skills. She manages to be able to seamlessly mould herself from one character to the next, maintaining amazing and unique facial expressions and physicalities for each. Ferpo’s dynamic characterizations and personal accounts combine to create a show that feels very personal, impactful and undoubtedly sheds light on woman’s positions in society.

Andrea Ferpo is a brilliantly adaptable and dynamic actor and she should be very proud of the important work she has created.

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