Review: Debauched Tales, The Cloak and Dagger – ‘History’s intimate details in an equally intimate setting’

As the lights of The Cloak and Dagger’s basement somehow dimmed even more, and three costume-draped figures emerged from behind stacks of books, attendees of The Debauched Tales event might have wondered what they had gotten themselves in to.

Described as ‘an evening of erotic storytelling and truths’, Debauched Tales does precisely what it says on the raunchy tin. The evening offered its audience a line-up of erotic prose, poetry and historical writing, all carefully selected by the evening’s hosts – Katie Grant, Edson Burton and Alexandra Mulholland.

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Comparable to improv comedy in both humour and preparation (or lack thereof), the event mirrored what you might imagine would happen if theatre professors got drunk enough to perform the texts they had previously decided were too lewd for class.

This Thursday The Cloak and Dagger hosted Debauched Tale’s second event, which offered literary smut under the generously broad theme of paganism. The crowd was quickly whisked through scandalous sex stories of antiquity, the Mulholland and Burton plunging us into the titillating creation myths of Greece and Africa. Grant took to the stage next, treating us to an X-rated reading of the Witches Bible, performed in a Scottish accent for seductive good measure.

As the night continued, and the intermission allowed both audience and performers a quick trip to the bar, the theme became looser and literary works defiled into al-fresco erotica. Alex recited a passage from Clan of the Cave Bear that she claimed had stuck with her since early teenage-hood. This was perhaps unsurprising given its subject matter; mammoth intercourse.

Involuntary audience participation opened the event, with Burton requesting each attendee to announce the “most explicit word you can think of”. Notable responses included “moist”, “turgid” and “gruel”.

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The audience only became more involved as the night continued.

Not only did several members read out literary passages but everyone was asked to write an erotic haiku during the break. Their tone varied from passionately literary to candid, with one attendee (who ignored the request for specific poetic form) coming up with: “My dick is hard, My heart is soft, Please come fuck me Lara Croft”

As the evening came to a close, the border between presenter and audience seemed to dissolve entirely. Our hosts’ enthusiastic invitation to their next bi-monthly event in July felt like the hasty pencilling of another date in the diary at the conclusion of a raucous pub trip with new friends.

Mulholland reads a piece from Debauched Tale’s erotic library – photo: Kate Bowie

If you’re after a polished piece of performance art, Debauched Tales is not for you. If you think you would enjoy listening to history’s intimate details in an equally intimate setting of like-minded people, then it just might be.

The third instalment of Debauched Tales is in July.

Cloak and Dagger 182, 184 Cheltenham Rd, Cotham, Bristol BS6 5RB

Main photo: Kate Bowie 

Read more: Review: React, Confession booth, Bristol Improv Theatre

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