Holly Spillar takes the audience on a journey unlike many others this year at the Edinburgh Fringe in her performance of HOLE. A one-stop performance explaining her experience of having vaginismus.

Reclaiming her body and sexual desires. Spillar uses a combination of spoken word and music to describe indepth her experiences of suffering from the medical condition “vaginismus” where the vagina isn’t stretched enough to allow her to use condoms or enjoy pain-free sex. A subject I knew very little about before watching Spillar.

Breaking the taboo and myths surrounding the condition. Spillar speaks openly about her experiences with ex-boyfriends, using tampons, and funny informative trips to the Doctors, who initially give very bad advice. Until she stumbles upon a female Doctor who understands the condition and gives her a vibrator. Yes, that is something available on the NHS for patients.

Every day is a new school day reviewing Fringe Theatre and HOLE is one of those. This production has a life beyond the Fringe Theatre and I think it would be a good piece to perform at Colleges and Universities. Spillar’s image and open performance could help other sufferers speak out and get the help they deserve, as girls of that age could relate more easily to her.

For more information on this production and seeking help for vaginismus please visit the links below.

Four Stars.

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/holly-spillar-hole

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vulvodynia/

Advice underneath by the NHS.

NHS guidelines for vaginismus treatment focus on the use of graded vaginal dilators and desensitisation, psychosexual counselling, relaxation techniques, and sensate focus. Drug treatments for vaginismus are less common but include local anaesthetics and muscle relaxants.