‘Animal Magnetism’ is scientific lecture meets late night game show exploring the weird and wonderful world of sex in the animal kingdom, all hosted by the fast-talking punk drag king ‘Sid Delicious’. So who better to interview Sid Delicious than FringeReview’s very own dog lecturer and sex-icon Dr.Pants? Animal Magnetism is on October 25 – November 1st during Colchester Fringe.
NAP: Hello Sid! As a performative lecturer with a focus in gay animal sex myself, it is an honor to interview you another acclaimed academic. Tell us: what do you have to teach us this Colchester Fringe? What is Animal Magnetism?
SD: It is a celebration of the diversity of nature through the best worst and weirdest of animal courtship. It’s also setting the record straight on the outdated 19th/20th century beliefs that still colour mainstream ideas of male and female animals today.
I haven’t checked all the other shows but I’m fairly confident it’s the only hour-long talk on animal sex hosted by a drag king with a master’s degree in wildlife conservation punctuated with interactive games where you can win a novelty penis pencil.
NAP: So who is this show for? What are you hopeful audiences will take away from this lecture on animal sexuality?
SD: Anyone who loved horrible histories/science as a kid and wishes there were adult versions. Anyone who finds it hilarious when they go to a zoo and hear a kid shout ‘look mum the tortoises are playing piggyback!’. And of course anyone who wants to spin one of those big prize wheels.
I genuinely hope people will leave saying ‘wow I never knew that’. Animal sexuality is so much more complex than popular belief and I want to smash those preconceptions.
NAP: And why Colchester audience specifically? Why did you decide to perform at Colchester Fringe?
SD: Colchester Fringe is such a showcase of talent and unusual shows that you don’t often see in Colchester the rest of the year. It’s a line up I’m delighted to be part of.
NAP: Now not everyone enjoys raunchy performative lectures. How would you convince me to see your play if I was hesitant to explore the animal kingdom?
SD: If the novelty penis pencil doesn’t sell you on it, I can promise that I will at no point be singing. In all seriousness, the atmosphere will be welcoming and audience participation strictly voluntary. And you’ll see some of the best parts they cut out of nature documentaries.
NAP: What’s been the biggest challenge in performing this work?
SD: Cutting it down to an hour! There is genuinely so many incredible examples from across nature that I could spend 20 minutes on but just don’t have the time, I’ve even had to leave out sexual cannibalism!
NAP: If you could be any animal, what would you be?
SD: I would be my absolute favourite animal: a nautilus as, unlike their octopus relatives, they’re not very smart but live 4 times as long.
‘Animal Magnetism’ is on Wed 21 October 7:00pm, Sun 25 October 4:30 pm, and Sun 1 November 4:30 pm during Colchester Fringe. While you’re here, read about our coverage of others shows at this year’s Colchester Fringe including about a one man King Arthur, Shakespeare’s least known play, or FringeReview’s resident interviewer Dr.Pant’s (a play in a) DARK ROOM.
