House of Yes, the outrageous performance space that hosted three sold out runs of Ketamine: The Musical, brings a daring new variety show to life called “Dirty Panties” about the highly controversial sex industry for four nights running from Friday, March 10 to Friday, March 17. Directed by House of Yes co-creative director Anya Sapozhnikova and written and produced by women that have a history and a connection with the sex industry, Dirty Panties explores what is often a taboo topic that no one likes to talk about in a format that is raw, intense, confronting and empowering, all at the same time.
The cast of ten will present a collection of abstract, emotional vignettes and personal accounts from different sex workers across all aspects of the industry. Highly stigmatized and frequently illegal, Dirty Panties examines the sex industry’s gray areas between what to some is considered sexy, beautiful and a symbol of female empowerment, alongside its uglier side of sexual objectification which can be violent, terrifying and extremely confusing. This controversial show will demonstrate both sides of the story with the aim to ignite discourse about a highly sensitive subject, the commodification of sex. Featuring incredible aerial acrobatics mixed with Shibari bondage, 360 degrees of interactive performance as well as an act starring a slave being humiliated in a way of their choosing, Dirty Panties will teleport viewers into a hidden world that is not for the faint hearted. In order to respect the privacy of those wishing to remain anonymous, the stories and experiences of some writers and producers will be told through surrogate performers.
“Sex workers are some of the most resilient people, but there is a darkness to the industry that is inescapable and should not be ignored. In order to survive the trade it’s imperative to have a sense of humor and a strong community to hold you up,” says House of Yes co-founder and co-creative director, Anya Sapozhnikova.
The show is presented in partnership with the Sex Workers Outreach Project (SWOP) whom are a national social justice network dedicated to the fundamental human rights of people involved in the sex trade and their communities with a focus on ending violence and stigma through education and advocacy. A representative from the organization will be on site at the SWOP information booth located in the House of Yes front bar for those wanting to find out more about the cause during the intermissions and how they can support women in the sex industry.