Jake Mace
We’re counting down to Prague Fringe by shining a light on a number of shows headed to the festival next week. Joseph Rawlings from Minty Spectre is offering an insight based on his own cancer diagnosis and journey in Hide My Porn. We caught up with Joseph for a pixelated pint to find out more about the show.
You can catch Hide My Porn as part of Prague Fringe from 28th-31st May at Divadlo Inspirace (50mins). Tickets are available through the Prague Fringe Box Office.
Jake: Hi Joseph! Your show with quite the striking title is inspired by a true story. Could you tell us about what inspired you to turn it into a theatre piece?
Joseph: When I was diagnosed with testicular cancer in my chest, I suddenly realised I was being confronted with a wealth of amazing characters whose interactions with me needed to be shared somehow.
During treatment, I had said rather flippantly that I should create a show about my experience and it actually took me six years to come up with something that I was ready to share, that felt like it was the right way of sharing my experience.
Hide My Porn as a title comes from a letter I wrote whilst I was sick – to my best friend – that outlined what I wanted in case things didn’t go to plan. Jokingly, at the end of the letter I had scribbled “PS. Hide My Porn so mum doesn’t find it.”
When I moved house a few years ago, I found this sealed envelope with the letter in it hidden amongst my belongings and I opened it and read it and realised immediately that this was the basis for the show that I had been struggling to create. So from that point, I used the letter that I’d written and hidden as the guiding force for the narrative of the piece.
I’m aware that I have a very lighthearted outlook on life and these big challenges that face us. So when thinking about the show, I realised that it might be very helpful to audiences and those around me to get a glimpse at how I deal with these challenging situations and as a result, I aimed to create a piece of theatre that in no way shies away from the difficulties of dealing with cancer but instead confronts it through comedy and silliness.
Jake: Tell us about the process you took in creating the piece, and what the audience can expect.
Joseph: When the time came to actually pull the piece together, I took over an old office space as a rehearsal room for two weeks and with the help of Adam my Co-director of Minty Spectre, and Brooke Parratt-Morris the Director of the show, We stuck every single letter I’d ever received from doctors from hospital from consultants from x-ray apartments onto a wall and using the letter I’d written to my best friend Chris, we
re-ordered the dates of these letters to fit in with the timeline of my treatment. I then started writing about each experience, each appointment, each x-ray, each surgery.
In the piece my letter is read to the audience and during this I break away to give the audience a glimpse of what certain moments, procedures and interactions were like from my perspective. I talk through the scary bits and share the fun, light and
laughter from the good bits.
The audience can expect a fast-paced, silly, serious but good humoured conversation about cancer in a way that – I would imagine – they’ve never thought about it before.
Jake: What are you hoping the audience might take away from the experience, if anything?
Joseph: Currently the statistic is that 1 in 2 of us will get cancer at some point in our lifetime, so all I hope from this performance is that the audience will understand that in most cases it isn’t the end of everything and that although the journey of dealing with and managing cancer is very hard, upsetting and unnerving there is plenty of opportunity for light and laughter and togetherness and good humour.
Jake: Tell us about how the show has ended up being performed at Prague Fringe, and what you’re most excited for about the festival.
Joseph: I was very fortunate to debut Hide My Porn at Colchester Fringe Festival in 2024, during which I was awarded Local Pick of the Fringe. The feedback I received from the audiences and those associated with the Colchester Fringe was was so positive, it was immediately apparent that there was an overwhelming sense that the show I had created for myself was so so important to lots of people and that the message of reframing such a challenging situation was helpful and universal and eye-opening for anyone who watched it. So when the opportunity to perform, it felt important to me that I continued to show that suddenly felt like it didn’t just belong to me anymore and actually was important for everyone.
Jake: Given the themes of Binge Fringe, if your show was a beverage of any kind (alcoholic, non-alcoholic – be as creative as you like!), what would it be and why?
Joseph: It’s funny that this is a question, because in the programme for Hide My Porn, I have created a full cocktail menu of drinks that might feature in an establishment called The Wellness Lounge. These are:
THE WELLNESS LOUNGE SPECIALITY COCKTAIL MENU
The Blood Thinner Martini
Our signature twice-daily shot, expertly crafted to keep things flowing smoothly. Served with a side of peace of mind.
The Recovery Reef
A powerful steroid-inspired mocktail that packs a punch. Known to turn ordinary humans into temporary superheroes. Warning: May cause midnight snack cravings.
The Immunity Booster
Our house antibiotic blend, guaranteed to keep the party crashers away. Particularly effective against unwanted chest companions.
The Joint Venture
A classic paracetamol-inspired comfort sipper. Perfect for when your body’s been dancing too hard.
The Dream Weaver
Our zopiclone-based nightcap. Finally, some rest for the weary! Pairs perfectly with counting sheep.
The Steady Eddie
An ondansetron-style settler. Because nobody likes a queasy disco.
The Stomach Whisperer
Our omeprazole-inspired digest-ease. Helps your stomach cope with our extensive menu.
The Flow & No
Can’t decide between our famous laxative launcher or our crowd-favourite stopper? Our bartenders are trained to serve exactly what you need.
The Water Works
Our furosemide-inspired special. Perfect when you’re feeling like a water balloon. Comes with a complimentary bathroom pass.
All our mocktails are served with a generous dose of hope and healing. Prescribed seating available.
Not to be recreated at home. Part of Joseph’s personalised wellness programme.
A reminder, you can catch Hide My Porn as part of Prague Fringe from 28th-31st May at Divadlo Inspirace (50mins). Tickets are available through the Prague Fringe Box Office.
Freddie Haberfellner
