Fury as theatre company stages naked show exploring ‘sexuality, sexual pleasure and queerness’ aimed at children as young as FIVE
- Producers say the show is a performance for families about sex and relationships
- It is described as a ‘fun and silly performance about the subject of sex’
- The Family Sex Show has said online that there is nakedness at one point in show
- But it has prompted outrage from parents who are considering protesting next month outside Bath Theatre Royal
A theatre company has sparked fury by staging a show featuring naked bodies that explores ‘love, sexuality and sexual pleasure’ aimed at children as young as five.
The Family Sex Show’s producers boast it’s a performance for families about sex and relationships – with parents encouraged to bring their children along.
The website describes it as ‘a fun and silly performance about the painfully awkward subject of sex, exploring names and functions, boundaries, consent, pleasure, queerness, sex, gender and relationships.
It goes on: ‘Using real life bodies, personal stories, songs and movement, The Family Sex Show puts the good stuff at the forefront of conversation and imagines a future where there is no shame; but a celebration of difference, equality and liberation.’
The Family Sex Show’s producers boast it’s a performance for families about sex and relationships – with parents encouraged to bring their children along
But the show has prompted outrage from parents who are considering protesting outside Bath’s Theatre Royal when it opens next month.
The backlash began on the social media site Mumsnet after a user called Matthew Taylor posted: ‘This show is aimed at children five years old and up. The performers get naked. The discussion with the children is on sex, sexuality and sexual pleasure.
‘I cannot imagine bringing a five-year-old child to a theatre where people will tell her/him about sex and show their naked bodies to her/him. Am I the crazy one?’
One 30-year-old mother, who contacted Mailonline about the show, said: ‘If this was aimed at teenagers I would have no objection but aiming this at children as young as five is a complete no-no.
‘They say it is broadly in line with the national curriculum but the difference is that in schools the messages are tailored to the age group whereas this is just dumping a load of stuff onto children who are far too young to deal it.’
Other Mumsnet users branded it ‘grooming in plain sight’ and called for the police to intervene and picket lines to be set up.
One user called BenCooperisaGod wrote: ‘If my kids teacher got naked to teach them about sexual pleasure, I would have a few choice words and be onto OFSTED faster than you could say where’s my cod piece.
‘People who want to get naked around little kids they are not related to are a danger.’
Pictured: The site discusses how it got facts and stories for the show, which starts next month in Bath
The Family Sex Show, which begins in Bath next month then tours the country, make no bones about the content of the 60-minute performance, stating: ‘There is nakedness yes. At one point in the show, everyone on stage takes their clothes off to the level they feel comfortable to.
‘For some people, that’s taking off all of their clothes and being completely naked. For other people that means taking off bottoms but leaving underwear on, for others it’s not taking off anything at all. This moment last approximately five minutes.’
They say they deliberately went for the provocative title so parents and carers would know what they are going to see and their website provides a range of questions and answers for those interested in attending.
They say the show ‘imagines a future in which there is no shame but a celebration of difference, equality and liberation.’
Josie Dale-Jones (pictured), from production company ThisEgg, who refers to herself by her pronouns she/her, explained: ‘We wanted to make something that came at the topics of relationships and sex in a light way’
Josie Dale-Jones, from production company ThisEgg, who refers to herself by her pronouns she/her, explained: ‘We wanted to make something that came at the topics of relationships and sex in a light way.
‘In a way that would open conversations and encourage people to ask questions to allow for that space of vulnerability and not knowing and making mistakes we hope the show adds to the more creative or alternative relationships and sex education that is out there at the moment in all different forms and we really wanted to make the show that we wish we’d had when we were younger and part of our adult selves feel like they need now. And mostly if we know our bodies we know our rights.’
Her colleague Allie, programming and engagement manager at Tobacco Factory Theatres, added: ‘Family Sex Show is a fun and playful show for adults and children aged five and up. It offers an honest, human sex education that is feminist, queer, non-binary, inclusive and sex positive.
‘This show can allow audiences of all ages to feel confident about their bodies, their boundaries and their sexual health.’
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