Edinburgh Fringe 2025
Sauna Boy
Dan Ireland-Reeves
Genre: Theatre
Venue: The Space at Surgeon's Hall
Festival: Edinburgh Fringe
Low Down
A strong monologue about a place where gay men meet for sex, but also a place for friendship and defiance againt the outside world.
Review
Dan works in one of the most popular and infamous gay saunas in the UK. It is where men meet for sex, not just gay men, but bi men, trans and straight men meet with no judgement. Dan, an actor, is quickly made Manager of the the establishment and has to deal with the team and the clientele. A semi biographical piece, Dan Ireland -Reeves’s script is witty, atmospheric, supportive of its environment and underlines the importance of same sex spaces, which are currently under threat of closure. In the 80s, gay saunas and clubs were the first establishments to give out safe sex education and free condoms, an effective act of rebellion and education as AIDS spread through the community.
Dan Ireland-Reeves gives an excellent performance. Each character is clearly defined, he moves swiftly from workers to customers. Marco the bitchy host, Mother, the temperamental owner, always on the verge of a hysterical breakdown, Chardonnay the camp drag queen, are all given appropriate and vivid life. With just a few lights, the seedy atmosphere is created very effectively, instantly recognisable to any man who has been to a gay sauna. The soundscape is also excellent, adding to the feel of the piece. When Dan has sex with a customer, it is done with fun and style, much more subtle than it would have been just a few years ago, and it’s all the better for it. Real life does intrude into this enclosed atmosphere though, a death happens on the premises and the fragility of this world is exposed.
For all its many positives, I did feel there was a need to better develop the real tension; that the stakes could have been higher. The humour could have been matched with more drama, and, in keeping the outside society at bay, there feels like little threat. But one of its strengths is in celebrating a sacred male only space, under threat from energy bills and the Internet as a hook up space. As one of the older customers says, he has made friends and can be himself in a safe space, it’s not just about sex. And Dan himself becomes confident and finds his tribe, ready to take that outside of the sauna. See it for the excellent performance and to support LGBTQ work, especially if you’re an ally.
