Written by David Finnigan

Review by Dominic Corr

Pleasance Dome

Well, this is one way to get your five a day…

With a name that captures the imagination, 44 Sex Acts in One Week at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe deconstructs the boundaries and playfulness of conventional theatre—given life by Fringe First winner David Finnigan, this manic and resoundingly unique post-apocalyptic romantic comedy which, despite the set-up and over-the-top humour, is a provocative piece of theatre that combines intergenerational feminism with the climate crisis. And it does a lot of this with sexual acts conducted on produce. Gotta get that Vitamin C somehow.

So, just what the hell does the title refer to? Well, besides the obvious. It’s a literal title – Celina, a blogger – tasked with completing these sex acts described within a self-help book; do it within a week and they are set to get a massive commission. The thing is, a lot of these sex acts need a helping hand (and a few other bits and pieces), and the only person willing to engage in this weeklong marathon with Celina is a chap with a real fondness for frogs. Colourful and eccentric, but with a clever ripple throughout, a series of absurd scenarios reflect the chaos of contemporary living, freelancing, and the gig-based economy.

The sex acts themselves are often illustrated through a strong cast, led by Sheridan Harbridge as a very vulnerable yet witty Celina. But what many audiences will walk away with is the soundscape of the show, with a heck of an impressive showcase of the art of foley, designed by Steve Toulman and sound engineer Keelan Ellis gives a very visceral sense of creativity, and lots of humour, to the performance. You’d be amazed what a watermelon, a lemon, and a few other bits of veg can do with an active imagination.

Slotting into a rhythm, the show becomes repetitive with its (creative) sound design and key concepts. It’s far more subdued than the name suggests, and focuses a lot more on the underlying connections and impending societal collapse – it’s a strong angle, but one which some audiences may not expect. A sharp script and critique of social etiquette and norms, 44 Sex Acts in One Week never forgets its apocalyptic subtext, and the shallowness of superficial solutions.

Bold, and occasionally daring, this inventive production offers a (very) fresh take on the rom-com genre. A thought-provoking piece of theatre that steps outside of the usual boundaries its fellow climate-crisis productions take, to lasting impact, and entertaining moments.

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