Impurity!

'Impurity!' is a performance event commissioned by Bishopsgate Institute and Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Performed by Maedb Joy and Carmen Ali of Sexquisite, alongside Samantha Sun, Black Venus, and Chaoying Rao
Bishopsgate Institute, London
14th May 2022

Inspired by real sex worker history from the Bishopsgate Institute archives, Sexquisite presents a cabaret show of multidisciplinary performances, with poetry, burlesque, dance, comedy, and more.

This show explored sex work through the ages - specifically how sex workers have been treated by the police, the media, and society over the years, exploring how sex workers have always existed at the mercy of legislation and public opinion, and still do.

Read more about our research here

The Paper Dress of Forgotten History was the finale act of Impurity! It features a dress made from large folded pieces of paper, written on them were information with the lives and stories of sex workers, both from the Bishopsgate archives and beyond. I tear each piece of paper out, unfold it, and hand it to the other performers to read out. The performance ends when I have no more paper left, and I am standing completely naked in front of the audience. Written and directed by Chaoying Rao

Sexquisite is a community arts company and artist collective, co-directed by Guildhall School alumni Maedb Joy. Sexquisite creates groundbreaking and stigma-defying work through cabaret, theatre, and workshops. Launched in 2019, they are committed to showcasing sex workers’ art and supporting the full decriminalisation of sex work.

Production: Maedb Joy & Carmen Ali
Script & choreography: Maedb Joy, Carmen Ali, Bella Violet Quinn, Samantha Sun, Black Venus, and Chaoying Rao
Stage manager: Devon James Bowen
Lighting designer: Josie Ireland
Performance documentation: Christa Holka
Merchandise desk: Celeste the Hooker

With special thanks to Iona McTaggart, Georgie Gwynne, Steph Lipscomb, Jo Chard, Bambi Bang Bang, Michelle Johansen, Orlando Myxx, Stacey Clare & Evelyn Carnate