If a performance starts with the creator's self filmed experience of a 'Ket sesh', then it's pretty obvious that only the truth will be told, and all of it. Katy's Baird's in development performance of Unreal was a no frills, honest, sometimes dodgy chat on why she takes drugs and her experience on life so far.
We were firstly split off as audience members, into different sections of the auditorium depending on the year we were born. This categorised us into generations - I am apparently 'Generation Y' - and described our general characteristics. Baird wanted to get to know us before she spilled the beans about herself. Armed with a computer presentation, her Ketamine session videos and nipple tassles, Katy Baird told us stories of where she grew up, where she moved to, her sexuality and most importantly her drugs. The drug stories were funny; the way she told them were hilarious, and I felt comfortable to listen and laugh because she talked to us in such an informal way. But I soon realised there was darkness underneath all the laughs. A particular video of Baird on a three day drug bender over Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day made me feel strange. Where were her family and friends? She seemed so lonely, addressing 'us' to the camera and not addressing people in her life.
Any Indecent Exposure? - Katy was possibly swaying too much towards advertising drugs as a good thing to do. Especially the amount she takes. However, an honest performance from a LGBTQ+ artist and her struggles with life is an important story to share.
No comments:
Post a Comment