How many of you have ever been called a whore? How many of you have ever called yourself a whore? It is quite an opening for any performance to start with. Especially in the intimate space of a small Greenside Venue, it felt slightly uncomfortable and the audience bar one were reluctant to participate and admit to being a whore at some point.

That’s ok as Emily Knuttson isn’t deterred, and she pushes forward with the performance, almost anticipating a lack of interaction.

Me and My Year of Casual Monasticism is Knutsson’s debut Edinburgh Fringe show where she uses the Medieval doctrine to explain her exe’s and other males that she has encountered over the years.

This all takes place while Knutsson deconstructs the Madonna-whore dichotomy, and explores what it means to be a woman navigating her way through love and sexual encounters before and during her life within the Cambridge University community.

The “types” of men described in the performance are all recognisable from the vast dating pool out there. Highlighting the types that should be avoided at all costs, but it’s well documented that women do like a challenge at times! If you take the doctrine’s advice presented by Knutsson you will avoid them at all costs.

Knutsson offers a well-researched and comprehensive explanation of how she has linked the Medieval doctrine with modern-day personalities. I am not ashamed to admit that some of the information went over my head as I am not well read on Medieval doctrine but that didn’t stop me from enjoying the performance.

For more information about Me and My Year of Casual Monasticism please use the link below.

Four Stars.

https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/me-and-my-year-of-casual-monasticism