‘My time is expensive… what you want is expensive!‘
These strong, bluntly honest opening words come from drag royalty Letitia Delish. The genius behind Provocateur. A deliciously sexually comic, insightful peek behind the curtain into her life as an ex dominatrix, looking to find herself and be loved for who she is. Whilst making a bit of money along the way, of course! This is a show which is very much for adults only and explores a lot of content that ranges from, but not limited to, finding the power in domination, special toys and equipment for pleasure, discovering your inner superstar in life and being brave enough to submit yourself to your own sexual journey away from carrying a pseudonym of power.
ProvocateurFrom the minute we entered The Lantern Theatre, we were faced with a very different theatrical setup. Selective props and costumes on portable racks with a simple leather bench set the scene against the main theatre’s black box, creating Delish’s dungeon. It felt like we were entering a very different kind of territory as we saw whips, rope and more, with a solitary man wearing a gimp costume and a mask to keep his identity hidden. We were definitely in for a bumpy ride ahead with no turning back.
As soon as Delish entered, she commanded the stage with her presence in black leather corsetry, black PVC skirt, gloves and high-heeled thigh boots. She knew how to use the silence well to draw us in before she spoke, and when she did, she grabbed our attention and held it as if we were the ones being dominated. One of the signs of a strong performer is when they use every single sense they possibly can to paint a picture of the past, and that Delish did. Through every word, she created not just that persona, but was brave enough to slowly peel away every single layer of her mind to reveal the lost soul behind the name. The person who lived in Bognor Regis, leaving there for stage school to escape the humdrum life they were living. Becoming someone else in order to feel a connection with someone. To be accepted.
All this was done so simply through the usage of physicalised action, dance, musical theatre, singing and eventually, a blank canvas wearing nothing but their skin. This was theatrical craft on another level. Delish along with her anonymous gimp, created an emotional rollercoaster that not only gave us an insight into the fragile state of mind as she went on her exploration of self, but also created a huge dynamic connection between herself and her stage partner as they explored various characters who also had their own demons to bare. The clever use of the anonymous gimp role also highlighted the power of being anonymous so that the freedom came from hiding behind the mask in the shadows. It made Provocateur not just about Delish’s story, but gave a platform to those stories that needed to be told in a safe space, protecting all involved. It needs to be also noted that at the time of writing, I have chosen to deliberately keep the gimp’s identity a secret in cast they do not want to be revealed to the world, keeping it on brand with safety and protection.
Every word spoken from both characters was beautifully paced, executed and took us on a clear journey emotionally. Every point of comedy was perfectly timed, whether it was a flippant throw-away comment or a simulated pleasure act interrupted mid-flow in a point of crisis. The energy was high and well maintained without it dropping, or staying the same level of volume or tone and as the story grew darker, the energy subtly changed to reveal a more vulnerable side to Delish, which was almost broken and child-like. To find out why this is, come and see the show.
Provocateur is a masterpiece that showcases freedom in choice, self-discovery and love. It will leave you wanting more.
Sascha Cooper
Company: Letitia Delish
It’s the oldest profession in the book, and Mistress is here to guide you with a trusty whip in hand. But there’s a new dominatrix in town, and she wants to leave a mark.
Tish is stuck, studying musical theatre in Bognor Regis (of all places), told to be a leading man and trapped in a body they don’t recognise. Something in them is screaming, longing to be free. But after a chance exchange on Grindr, Tish was given a chance to become something new; and make some money along the way. Now, Letitia will take you by the collar and unleash the power that comes from relinquishing control and fuelling your inner desires. But when the corset comes off and the cash changes hands, can Tish separate the person from the persona?
Provocateur is a bold new show from London’s drag fetish sensation Letitia Delish; on her journey into sex work and how being an ex-dominatrix became their earliest form of gender expression and transness. First performed as part of The Pleasance’s Futures Festival 2024.