Vocalisation of and commentary upon male dominance throughout human history

The stage was set with a long table spanning most of its width and set with an array of food and drink including fruit, cheese and wine. Members of the cast took turns in simply stating the criminal atrocities conducted by men throughout history, some laughable and others grotesquely inhumane.

Over the course of the performance nine women and four men were present on stage although at varying times. Around half way through the performance each female member of cast would take her turn to speak before exiting the stage to join the audience.

By the end only the four men remained still listing the wrongdoings committed by man throughout history. At the very end a young girl stood atop the table and read aloud what she wished for the future before a screen displayed the loss of life caused by man from the beginning of human history to present day.

Many of the topics discussed were graphic and violent in nature but this only helped to make the performance all the more gripping. It was refreshing to listen to such raw accounts regarding many events that had once been covered up, falsely justified or forgotten. The unashamedly simple nature of the performance allowed the audience to interpret it as they wished.

To me the theatre became a prop or metaphor, with the on goings on stage demonstrating the inherently violent nature of man and the audience depicting the undeniably passive nature of individuals. Although I have referred to the ‘cast’ and ‘performance’ it must be noted that This Is What Men Do was not performative in nature but rather the vocalisation of and commentary upon male dominance throughout human history.

Review by Natasha Davis, undergraduate at University Campus Suffolk

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