Today (Tuesday) I attended a work-related session about women and money – in particular how they earn less, save less in spite of being better savers and are more likely to retire with less. It highlighted how vulnerable women can be even in the 2020s. I rushed from work to BATS, as Tales from the Strypt starts at 6pm, a surprisingly early timeslot for a show with a full hand of adult content! However, this sudden transition in my day turns out to be a great segue. 

The show opens with a moving karakia to the passing of Georgina Beyer, who is much loved and missed by her community and chosen family. Then comes a buoyant and funny parody of a famous musical number, which makes it clear to the audience just who they are dealing with tonight. This women of this show will be using it to tell us their stories through their characters. 

The setting is a filmy white world of cold stillness – a lobby to a Nirvana where the Goddess (Kay’la) accepts those who… what? That is the tricky bit, we don’t really know and neither do they. Danica (Rachel Atlas) has been stuck there for a long time, afraid of what she thinks she may have to give up in order to move on. Cherry (Kit Marsh) arrives and has to work it out for herself. Angels (Gahh, Talia and Cherida) pop back through the veil to encourage, annoy and entertain. Cynthia (Layla) arrives casually, to tell her story and get passed through, much to the frustration of the others.

Many stories are told of how the characters got into sex work – the good, the bad and the ugly of it – and it feels as if all sides are being presented fairly. The story that rattles me after my women and money session is the Angel’s retelling of being turned down for a bank loan, even though she had brought in her employment contract, as it didn’t represent a regular, salaried income. A chilling reminder that while legal, it isn’t just the attitudes of society to sex work that get in the way of a normal life. After the earlier session about the financial vulnerability of women it is chilling. 

This show is about letting go, being vulnerable and honest in a world where these things seem impossible and even dangerous. It’s about celebrating chosen family and intergenerational growth. Seeing three generations of women on stage in this show demonstrates that the bonds of chosen family can be as strong as any blood tie.

As a piece of theatre, Tales from the Strypt has a huge heart, some great laughs and some tears. It includes a strong insight into the impact of colonialism on sexuality and – most of all – reinforces the universal truth that every society stands on the shoulders of women and their mahi, who make the best of what they have to work with. 

Footnote:
Tales From The Strypt! is the second theatre show created by Rachel Atlas, winner of the NZ FRINGE 2022 Best In Fringe and Tour-Ready Adelaide awards for her debut show GAG REFLEX.  Atlas was awarded a spring residency at BATS Theatre to develop this show and this is its worldwide premiere.

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