Words: Libby Taylor

3 stars

Managed Approach explores the controversial topic of sex work in a human, nuanced, and non-judgemental manner. Its strength is in the fact that it does not take sides and avoids espousing a moral viewpoint, but rather presents real and complicated experiences and allows the audience to come to their own conclusions on the regulation of sex work.

There is some excellent acting throughout the piece, particularly from Tel Chiuri and H Sneyd, who perform the verbatim elements as if they themselves are the sex workers being interviewed. Even with the fact they were interacting with a voiceover, they succeed in being incredibly natural, convincingly conveying moments where they pause for thought or where a new train of thinking comes to mind. The daughter and the mother scenes struggle to achieve the same impact through the casting of the mother as someone who looks the same age as her daughter. Putting that aside, Jules Coyle and Eanna Ferguson perform beautifully in their opening scene. 

Unfortunately, as the show continues, the non-verbatim script loses quality and turns a bit clunky and cliché. There is some swapping between playing different characters which could be smoother and the plot starts to become an overdone coming of age story, which could have been more poignant through building on the eye-opening and undervalued experiences the show explores elsewhere. A production of strong ideas and performances, but the script needs further development.

Managed Approach
Coorie @ Gilded Balloon Patter House
8 – 24 Aug (Not 15)
13:40