The Talk

Created from interviews with almost 100 people, ‘The Talk’ is a headphone verbatim play about the subversive history of sex education in England.

‘The Talk’ is about how we learnt, or didn’t learn, about sex and relationships. The play features personal tales of first times and crossed lines; the education and awareness we wanted, needed, didn’t get, or didn’t like. It is also the political story of the subject’s formal position in the education system.

From parents and teachers, inquisitive 11-year-olds and angry 15-year-olds, doctors and former education secretaries (including Ed Balls and Nicky Morgan), Neela has listened to people from their teens to their nineties. These very personal interviews form the content for a 60-minute play that will make you laugh, wince, cry, and hopefully ‘talk more about all things sex ed.’.

The play is directed by Kristine Landon-Smith (co-founder of Tamasha). The cast includes Ken Birk, Divian Ladwa, Nyla Levy, Stephen Myott-Meadows, Josephine Starte and Jen Tan.

Previous audience feedback includes:

‘A tour de force through 50 years of confusion, ignorance and occasional enlightenment.’
‘This was such an important show that has to be shown as far and wide as possible.’
‘It was excellent; provocative, awkward conversations well communicated.’
‘I hope this is the start of a wider conversation’.
‘Presentation beyond anything I could visualise, very powerful, emotional, sad, funny, thought-provoking and relevant. Should be seen by many more.’
‘Totally absorbing.’
‘Utterly brilliant... superb cast.’
‘Kind of scary.’

Photography by Chouette Films.