Eve Miller
In this action-packed hour of Celtic storytelling, Clare Murphy doesn’t present feminist retellings of popular tales; rather, she has painstakingly collected folklore and myth that is already feminist in nature, the tales that have fallen by the wayside in favour of tales about male heroism. The Spanking Goddess and Other Discarded Tales is sex-positive, joyful, and warm performance that affirms this traditional practice and makes it sparkle anew.
Murphy begins by explaining the homecoming potential of stories, that even when far from your land you can access that connection through the stories. This is a pulsating throughline between the three stories, each of which is about connection and homecoming. The first is about an encounter between a god and the daughter of a rival King, whose encounter disrupts gender norms and reshapes the land. The second revisits the tale of Cú Chulainn’s time training with woman warrior Scáthach in Skye, and the wisdom with which they accept one another as equals. These tales are injected with humor as Murphy morphs from one character and another, embodying each with energy and verve.
The final story is the most striking, and the most touching. Murphy introduces us to Mis, a princess from an invading land who is driven into madness by the trauma of her family’s slaughter, and becomes a feral creature on a hilltop for centuries, until the power of gentleness and shared humanity in the form of storytelling and music brings her back to herself. The empathy that Murphy has for each of these characters is overflowing, enrapturing the audience and making us care too.
Murphy has a singular skill for storytelling – she is entirely at home on the stage, her voice captivating the audience even with a whisper. A dazzling feat of controlling her energy, Murphy exudes calm and groundedness, and yet remains sprightly, springing between ideas and characters with a glint in her eye. Her physicality is impeccable, as she flirts, slouches, and battles her way through each of the three tales.
The Spanking Goddess and Other Discarded Tales is a masterclass in storytelling and audience engagement, and a celebration of all overshadowed wild women. Pithy, punchy, and perfectly crafted, this is what storytelling is all about.
Drink recommendation: A dirty martini – dry, sophisticated, and a little scandalous.
Performances of The Spanking Goddess and Other Discarded Tales have now concluded at EdFringe 2025.
Jake Mace
Jasmine Silk
Phoebe Bakker
