Edinburgh Fringe 2026
Low Down
Mellisa Todd is a Dominatrix, a Columnist for a couple of regular publications and apparently a Sex Positive influencer. She brings to the fringe a one woman show that gives an insight to being a dominatrix whilst enlightening her audience.
Review
In a dark studio at Greenside, just after ten in the evening Mellisa introduces herself to a small audience. Appearing in a respectable dress, high heels and the obligatory black tights, she presents a look that would not be out of place at the village feté. However, this is a niche subject so at the outset she introduces the terms used by those engaging in this lifestyle to ensure that the audience will fully understand her tales.
Once in full flow, she engages her audience with a series of anecdotes from her past activities, illustrated by details that you may find hard to believe. Interestingly you will also find out about how she turned to this occupation at a relatively young age, and her background. She wields an impressive cane throughout, selecting stories from her book. These are interwoven with her story of a week-long detention, which could be entitled “Who is in Detention”
Her hour-long performance passes very quickly as Melissa engages and presents a very happy life as a dominatrix which appears not to lessen her as a person. Although, this style of life seems to be led by only a small proportion of the population, which many keep hidden away, this is always of interest to the news and online sites.
I found the show skilfully delivered by a performer in command of her material and the stage, interesting and full of detailed anecdotes, she presents well and engages with the audience. Admittedly the audience at the show I saw appeared to be fully conversant with the scene and I was a little disappointed that there were not more that could be described as ‘the person in the street’ to coin and old phrase. Personally, I would like to have seen more than the cane as a prop and the show in more intimate surroundings. Overall, I am more than happy to recommend Gag Writer. This niche show deserves a wider audience, especially the curious.
