The most thrilling play you’ll see, and it’s just a lectern and a slideshow. “Embarrassed Naked Female (this show contains nudity)” is a lecture-performance following a stolen video down the rabbit hole of internet creeps – a true story! In today’s interview, performer and writer Elsa Couvreur speaks with Fringe Review’s resident interviewer (and often nude performer) Dr.Pants to discuss the terrifying true story of Couvreur’s encounters with an exploitative internet community. ‘Embarrassed Naked Female (this show contains nudity) is on Thu 22 October 7:00 pm, Sat 24 October 7:00 pm, and Sun 25 October 4:30 pm during Colchester Fringe. (Please note: this interview does not contain nudity).
NAP: Hello Elsa! It is a pleasure to speak to you today. I caught glimpses of ‘Embarrassed Naked Female’ during Gothenburg Fringe 2025 and it is a remarkable show. I am hopeful to see it in full during the fringe myself. What is this show about?
EC: In 2020, during the Covid lockdown, just like many artists did at the time, I made several of my shows temporarily available online. A video of my solo show “The Sensemaker” quickly became highly sought-after in certain corners of the internet – all because of the five minutes of nudity it contains. Years later, I’m still having to take it down from various adult forums where it keeps resurfacing without my consent.
When the administrator of one of those websites invited me to join his forum, because – according to him – I’d “be surprised as to how normal his visitors were”, I accepted the invitation.
“Embarrassed Naked Female (this show contains nudity)” is a lecture-performance built like a forensic thriller: a deep dive into the rabbit hole of internet communities and my bizarre encounters with the men in them.
NAP: And to emphasize again. This is all a true story, correct? It is a performer’s worst nightmare to have their performance and image exploited in the ways you have experienced.
EC: It’s a true story, told by the person it happened to, with the receipts on screen. There’s no set, no costume, no character to hide behind. It’s me, a lectern and a slideshow, and it plays like a thriller.
NAP: Did the men you write about ever find out about the show?
EC: Yes! I won’t spoil anything, but they absolutely did discuss it online.
NAP: Do you struggle with how close it is to you personally? What is the biggest challenge in performing this work?
EC: The story isn’t over. I’m still finding the video online and still sending takedown requests, so I’m making a show about something that keeps happening to me. The hardest part was finding the right distance: I wanted the show to be fun and entertaining, and still leave audiences thinking.
I think everyone knows what it feels like to lose control over something they posted on the internet. Their story may be very different from mine, but digital ownership is something we as a society still don’t know how to deal with.
NAP: The show deals with what is a traumatic and terrifying situation, but often through a lot of humor. Why use humour for such a dark topic?
EC: Laughing at something takes away some of its power. It also lets the audience stay with me through the hardest parts instead of shutting down. The anger is there, but the laughter is what makes people listen.
NAP: Now nudity often makes people nervous about seeing a show, does the show contain nudity? What if I’m hesitant to see this show because of the title?
EC: If the title makes you nervous, you’re exactly who this show is for. It isn’t a lecture that tells you what to think, and it isn’t a harrowing hour of trauma. It’s a story with twists, told by someone who refuses to be embarrassed. Reviewers keep describing the same strange mix: laughing out loud while feeling furious.
NAP: And you’ve actually performed at Colchester Fringe before. What brings you back?
EC: I’ve already performed at Colchester Fringe twice – in 2022 and 2023 – and I’m looking forward to being back. In fact, in 2022 I performed “The Sensemaker”, so it is especially exciting to return with what can be considered a sequel. Colchester Fringe has always been very welcoming and programmes a variety of shows I am looking forward to seeing.
NAP: What are you hopeful audiences take away from this show?
EC: I hope they leave with plenty to talk about. And if anyone in the room has been through something similar, I hope they leave feeling that the shame was never theirs to carry.
‘Embarrassed Naked Female (this show contains nudity) is on Thu 22 October 7:00 pm, Sat 24 October 7:00 pm, and Sun 25 October 4:30 pm during Colchester Fringe. While you’re here, read about the other thrillers happening during Colchester Fringe including the survival of SHEEP! and FringeReview’s very own Dr.Pants and his queer psychological thriller.
