Review by Marissa Burgess

We’re four decades on from the women’s liberation movement, but negative attitudes towards women and our sexuality still abound. The presence of Ann Summers on the high street and their back rooms full of vibrating plastic penises may be a mainstream acknowledgement of female sexual desire but ‘slut’ and ‘slag’ are still directed towards any woman who dares to enjoy sex with many different partners.

Though many female comedians include material about their sexual shenanigans in their stand-up, Gemma Goggin is unashamedly embracing her ‘inner slut’ and has written a whole 50-minute show about her. A celebration of promiscuity if you like.

The show is full of frank discussions of Goggin’s own (more often than not) one-night exploits with various blokes, from the normal guy who’s just not a great looker to the man who has a favourite teddy they want to introduce to her. Elsewhere she debunks some sex myths such as using Diet Coke as an anti pregnancy vaginal wash, and covers date etiquette – don’t invite him back for coffee unless you’re prepared to be straddling him later.

There are some fine moments to be found here, for example the top five most complicated Kama Sutra positions are demonstrated by Goggin’s two blow-up pals, and she ponders what life was like before text and phone sex in a routine that includes some beautifully pitched 1943 sex chat letters ‘of her grandmother’s’ penned in Brief Encounter style.

Occasionally the show slips in the pedestrian and the familiar – here the oft parodied M&S ad is transformed into ‘not just ordinary nipple clamps…’ Though if nothing else Goggin provides a handy tick list of what is normal – remember, ladies, that being ‘swiped’ by a fella as if he’s trying to pay for something on his credit card is more likely to be evidence of his lack of knowledge of female biology rather than a new technique he’s learnt.

One favourable review of this show mentioned that it might not be the type to bring your mum to. Sod it, bring her and your Granny too. They might learn something new.

Review date: 29 Aug 2010
Reviewed by: Marissa Burgess