Jake Mace
Content Warning: Discussion of sexual violence, bodily functions, illness, death, & more.
Shitbag has been told that they’re likely to need a stoma at some point in their life – and it launches them into a manic episode of debauchery, euphoria, delusion, and eventually, deep introspection about what they want from life. Across an hour of non-stop, self-examining and earnest storytelling, they somehow manage to not miss a beat even when wrapped up in an autobiographical narrative of absolute chaos.
Aptly performed at Summerhall’s Anatomy Lecture Theatre, we look down onto performer Hayley Edwards throughout the performance – the stage littered with bits and pieces from their life, but most prominently an over-toilet aid which is weaponised erroneously by our performer throughout to often hilarious effect. Shitbag uses chronic illness, and Hayley’s diagnosis with Crohn’s Disease, as both a framing to explore deeper themes of gender, sexuality, and mental health, but also affords it due and unguarded exploration. From the messy bits – the symptoms, the fluids, the eponymous shit and eponymous bag – down to how it led them staring into the existential void.
It would be easy for a piece like this to be self-pitying or indulgent, and thankfully Hayley ignores these tropes to offer something that comes across as far more inviting, even despite the vivid descriptions of bodily functions. Hayley doesn’t simply wants us to understand or empathise, but to see our mortality for what it is and what it can do to the mind, especially after taking lots of substances (both prescribed and otherwise) that heighten those lucid feelings of existentialism.
This show is, as its heart, an unabashedly queer piece of writing. I’d go as far to say that the intersections of chronic illness, sexuality, and gender have likely never been so thoroughly cross-examined on stage before. Throughout, Hayley’s on-stage persona elicits a great deal of empathy from the audience, with self-deprecating humour delivered flawlessly, and queer insight feeling very much at the middle of this swirling, dizzying universe of hook-ups, orgies, mania, and everything in between.
Hayley’s performance is matched with equally impressive deployment of technical design, making use of the cavernous venue to pitch Hayley against the void, and us existing somewhere in between the two. Moments that see Hayley leaping around the aforementioned over-toilet aid are highlighted with spotlighting and vividly helps to trace the outline of this wild journey.
Moments of audience interaction allow Hayley to show off their skill in managing the room – they are limited and even though one member of my audience took advantage of this, they were able to fend off any concerns and keep control of the narrative. It’s difficult to deploy these devices well, and Hayley works hard to achieve an unusual para-social bond with us as audience members to keep us on side throughout. The piece makes reference to some of the giant shoulders it stands on (aka Fleabag), but Hayley’s whip-smart humour, wide-eyed glee, and the piece’s formal uniqueness give it a wholly original feel.
Stirring, fresh, gallant – Shitbag isn’t to be missed.
Recommended Drink: Pair this with a Long Island Ice Tea – a mix of wild elements that seem like they shouldn’t work together, but pack an almighty punch.
You can catch Shitbag until August 25th (not the 11th) at Anatomy Lecture Theatre at Summerhall from 16:15 (60mins). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Lamesha Ruddock
Jasmine Silk
