Reviews | socially [un]acceptable

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"socially [un]acceptable has such a powerful message that made me sit up and think. I left the theatre thinking about my own sexual encounters and wondering if I had also been the victim of socially acceptable sexual assault."

"I cried for the majority of this show. Not just because of her performance, which was incredible, but because everything she was saying was to help others, not herself."

Great Scott Media

"Desmond’s script is bold, intelligent and flecked with a cynicism that lent a very dark humour to an already dark subject. Sheer bravery notwithstanding, this is a potent first piece by such a young playwright."

"The story is engaging enough, but it’s the concept and the motivation behind that piece which exposes it’s true value. Desmond is removing the excuse of ignorance, bringing the uncomfortable truths to a society which perpetuates these attitudes."

"This is a story that needs telling. With resounding ferocity and unwavering composure, Laura confronts the blurred lines of sexual assault that are too often regarded as socially acceptable. And she's enthralling."

Great Scott Media

"This show doesn't try to shock the audience, or to moralise. It's just a straight-up, honest recount of what happened. But it's also about the lies we tell ourselves about these experiences. About what we should have done differently, what we owed him."

Reviews: Testimonial

The Adelaide Show

"Bringing each tale into some relief, are songful vingnettes in which Laura gets to showcase her powerful voice in a way other than the F*&^ laden exclamations which punctuate her visceral retelling of her tales."

"An important performance for both women and men alike, Socially [un]acceptable needs to be seen, heard, discussed, and praised for its bravery and honesty. Thank you, Laura Desmond, for sharing your experiences with us."

The Serenade Files

"socially [un]acceptable is an important and relevant theatrical performance by a writer and performer with integrity. If this is the quality of her debut as a playwright, then I look forward to seeing more of her work."

Collage Adelaide

"Desmond’s stage presence is at once casual and controlled, slowly drinking a beer throughout the show while also clearly choosing her words very carefully. The open honesty of the show makes for a confronting performance, while being all too familiar to too many people."

"Throughout these stories we watch Laura, stripped bare. She is modestly before us in her underwear and giving us the raw details. Alcohol is somewhere in all of this and that’s a deliberate choice to force us the audience to reflect on the victim blaming that goes with all of this."

"Desmond tackles issues of respect, safety, self-blaming, love and the rights of individuals, without ever resorting to preachiness or gender bashing. This makes what she has to say more universal. The timeliness of her show couldn’t be better."

"Desmond’s writing is very smart in its ability to involve us, and merciless in its potential for confronting us. Her generally amiable, outgoing persona in this show is an effectively chilling contrast to its content. She deserves our congratulations and encouragement"

What's On In Adelaide

"I was flawed by this beautifully
delivered piece which was emotionally challenging and at times breathtakingly
difficult to listen to. It was also a brutal reminder of the
importance of continued education, for people of all ages, genders and nationalities."

"Stripping down to her underwear throughout the show and illuminated by a soft blue light, she takes an incredibly courageous feat; opening up her most vulnerable experiences for public scrutiny. She’s a natural storyteller; passionate, raw and in explicit detail."

This Is Radelaide

"socially [un]acceptable is a performance that lingers with you long after you leave. It’s confronting, it’s raw and it invites you to question the way society views sexual assault. This show is a perfect example of how art can be used for social change."

"In a performance which is not for the faint of heart, but is definitely something everyone should hear, Desmond recounts personal experiences of sexual assault and the misguided “societal norms” that allowed these events to take place"

"socially [un]acceptable takes the audience on a voyage through the musings of a woman fighting social pressure, discovering self-worth and understanding what it means to have ownership of your own body."

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