Megan Prescott is best known for her role as Katie Fitch in the TV drama Skins. They recently hit tabloid headlines for working as both a stripper and running an OnlyFans account. The accomplished actress’s latest project is Really Good Exposure, which is a brilliant one-woman show that explores attitudes to sex work, acting, and women in general.
The show blends Megan’s experiences with other examples from the media, and as we file in and take out seats, we meet the character of Molly, who is working security, who then quickly discards this outfit in favour of something a bit more revealing and sparkly. This is very eye-catching (Prescott is a bodybuilder and fitness guru) but also a stark reminder of the character’s vulnerability throughout. It is incredibly well done.
Megan draws from examples across the industry, and has skilfully picked out real-world news stories to blend with her own life experience to create Molly’s story. A QR code is available at the end for anyone who feels the need to check sources.
Molly’s story is one filled with exploitation; the tale starts with Molly as a child actor, and in the background a projector shows a tabloid news style website; it’s a count-down telling us when Molly will ‘be legal’. The story has a steady beat of awful, exploitative things happening to someone who is just trying to make a living. The rhythm of the storytelling is relentless and powerful.
This is a story of how easy it is for someone to have any agency or control taken from them, and the journey to take that back. Chilling at times and incredibly well-performed, Prescott’s talent shines through. This is a masterful arrow aimed at the heart of entertainment culture. It’s impossible to watch this show and not understand that we still have a long way to go to make things fair and equitable for all.
Really Good Exposure is an incredible showcase of Megan Prescott’s skill as a performer and theatre-maker. Brilliant.
You can get Edinburgh Fringe 2024 tickets here, and find out more about Megan Prescott here.
