INTERVIEW: Roisin Crowley Linton

Image by: Cherries on Fire

Roisin Crowley Linton, a comedian and theatre-maker best known for her solo shows Teenage Kicks and Be More Do Better But Don’t Change, is back at ARC with a new show. Not Yours depicts life after experiencing sexual violence, and takes a fierce stand against the word ‘victim’.

Roisin, a self-confessed ‘jack of all trades’, is using joyous circus and cabaret in Not Yours. “The best way to tackle a serious subject is with light, laughter and an open mind and heart,” she explains, “the people in the audience who have experienced those things are the ones slapping their knees laughing.”

“Circus people are absolute tanks,” Roisin declares when asked about the disciplines used in Not Yours, “the cabaret and burlesque in the show is sexy and weird, without performing for the male gaze. It’s wilder, weirder, scarier and funnier.”

Tackling themes of trauma, recovery and empowerment through moments of joy, rage, vulnerability and community, Roisin’s approach is one of joyful abandon. The production also features a newly formed burlesque troupe from Stockton who are underlining the messages in the show through ownership of their sexuality and powerful moves.

The cabaret and burlesque in the show is sexy and weird, without performing for the male gaze.

Roisin explains that she wanted to explore the theme of sexual violence in her drama school. However: “It was without the grace, patience and knowledge to make that a safe place to explore. My head, of course, said ‘maybe that’s something for the future’”

During the pandemic, Roisin worked in the NHS as a sexual assault crisis worker. “It was one of the best experiences of my life. There was so much joy, light and laughter because these horrible things had happened to real people and real people have lives outside of these experiences. In the darkest times people will make jokes. There is this idea of a perfect victim and if someone doesn’t follow this script people can turn their backs. People weren’t coming in cowering with their knees to their chest, but were often fucking fuming. The way they react isn’t always in a sympathetic way because our reactions to trauma shouldn’t be for an outside perspective, they should be for us.”

Her experiences helped her to expand her knowledge, and she found she was finally ready to tackle the subject on a larger scale.

Roisin is keen for audiences to understand the cycle of shame so often portrayed when it comes to sexual violence. “Women are told they are too delicate to talk about sexual violence openly, or put men off the conversation if we’re too open about it. But it’s important that people understand that sexual violence happens to men and women.”

Roisin explains that many of her audiences are people who already understand the subject matter, whether through personal or anecdotal experiences. “We don’t need anything else reminding us of how hard it is. We need a reminder there is hope, joy and recovery. Everyone wants to talk about this. It comes up three glasses of wine in, it’s on the tip of everyone’s tongue. This is not a unique experience. It’s one of the most universal experiences.”

“There’s a shift happening,” Roisin promises. “I’m proud to be a part of it.”

Not Yours is performed at ARC in Stockton on Saturday 15^th February.