Everything I See I Swallow

Feminist ideas collide and combine in intimate aerialist piece
This fusion of theatre, aerial rope work and Japanese bondage art (shibari) explores cross-generational ideas of feminism and what it means to own your body in the context of your own life. The definition of this differs greatly to the mother-daughter duo central to the piece.
The daughter (Maisie Taylor) has struggled since a young age to own her beauty and to feel her body is her own and doesn't belong to those who look upon it. She finds solace in shibari, an erotic art that allows her to reclaim her sexual and physical identity. To her, this is empowering and feminist; to her mother (Tamsin Shasha), who discovers this through Instagram, this is overt, hypersexualised and bordering on pornography.
Aerialism requires the characters to have complete and utter control of their bodies and the blend of performance styles is utilised to forceful effect throughout. Rope scenes appear both effortless and exhausting; much like the seemingly unsolvable conflict at hand.
The chemistry between the two is transfixing and intimate as they work to iterate their perspectives on femininity. The show excels in examining its topic without a moment of caricature or ill-jest. Quotes from feminists like Andrea Dworkin and Natasha Walter aptly litter the backdrop of the final scenes as the pair attune their thoughts and entwine their movements.
Summerhall, until 25 Aug (not 12, 19), 6pm, £13 (£11).