Within the last decade has come a generation of new theatre focusing on contemporary issues that don't necessarily follow the standard suspension of disbelief love story that let's the audience escape what's happening outside of the auditorium doors. The Feminazis follows this new structure that throws real life into the faces of the audience, without the esoteric "woke" vibe, but really invites you into a truly fantastic, moving and funny piece of theatre with enough of a dystopian vibe that you can actually laugh and not break into a weeping ball of existential dread.
What makes this piece truly special is the fact it was written by a person in their early twenties, but showcases that maturity and skill do not come with age but with passion and an extensive knowledge of the social, economic and political climate around you. This is the second play by Lily Vosper I have seen and both times was blown away by the beauty and truth she portrays. Her self penned theatre company 'Curious Dispute', along with co-founder Joseph Barker, sets out to bring social commentary in a satirical and almost farcical way with real punch-in-the-gut moments to the stage. Real issues performed to real people in a memorable way. The Feminazis follows self proclaimed 'social justice warriors' Sal and Libby in their quest to rid the world of bigotry and quickly spiral into a world that is completely out of their depth. As the name suggests, it mocks the 'extreme' feminist movement that far right males warn us about but we are yet to see proof of. The piece was brilliantly performed, timed to perfection and gave a perfect balance of "you are allowed to laugh, allowed to cry but most importantly see the reflection within the real world". That is not the technical terminology but you know what I mean. You can see the love the cast has for the story and the passion for performing which is a true testament to director Jez Humphries, playwright Lily Vosper and script consultant Julian Briscoe. The Feminazis is on at Etcetera Theatre as part of Camden Fringe Festival Monday 5th- Wednesday 7th August and then moves on to Edinburgh Fringe. This show is truly not one to be missed.
