A Body At Work ~ Adelaide Fringe 2024 ~ Theatre Review

[Theatre and Physical Theatre, Victoria, SA Premiere] The Lark at Gluttony, Tue 12 Mar Frankie van Kan’s (aka Frankie Valentine) new solo show “A Body at Work” offers a humanist and deeply personal perspective on sex work, refreshing for a trade which is so often publicly discussed only by people for whom the job is an abstract. Valentine, a queer sex worker, former stripper, and self described “serial nudist”, muses on the navigation of an industry that exists at intersections: desire and commodification, empowerment and objectification, connection and alienation. Somewhere between autobiography, manifesto, and erotic cabaret, the performance showcases Valentine’s keen understanding of her queer body’s complex relationship with the male gaze, alternately erecting and stripping back barriers between the gazing audience and the gazed-upon performer. Though the show at times at times lingers on dark subject matter, Valentine’s narration of her journey to a place of contentment and true ’embodiment’ in her working life is a quietly uplifting one. Overcoming social and internal stigma, Valentine reaches a space of internal resolution, where work, body, and soul are united, and sex work can become a space for tenderness and positive connection for provider and client alike. On its opening night, the performance suffered a power cut about 20 minutes from the end, a frustration that the team turned into gold as Valentine performed in near darkness, dissolving the already decaying barrier between artist and audience even further. A very moving experience. 4 stars Daniel Tune A Body at Work continues at The Lark at Gluttony every night from 10 pm until Sun Mar 17. Book at FringeTIX and adelaidefringe.com.au Click HERE to purchase your tickets. #ClotheslineMag #ADLfringe