Money problems, social media, sex, relationships and the increasingly desperate search for financial security all collide in 15 Minutes of Shame, a contemporary piece of theatre which feels very much rooted in the world we are living in now.
The production follows a young London couple struggling with the realities of keeping themselves financially afloat. Rent needs paying, money is tight and everywhere they look online there seem to be other people enjoying the success and lifestyle that remains frustratingly out of their own reach. Faced with that pressure, the couple turn towards OnlyFans as a possible solution.
What initially appears to offer a way out of their financial difficulties soon begins to affect something else: their relationship. As their online following grows, the connection between the two of them in the real world starts to change.
Directed by acclaimed artist Adébayo Bolaji, 15 Minutes of Shame combines comedy and drama to examine a subject which could easily have become sensationalised. Instead, there is something recognisable underneath it all. This isn’t simply a play about OnlyFans; it is about what financial pressure can do to people, the choices desperation can lead us towards and what happens when money begins influencing the most personal parts of a relationship.
One thing I particularly appreciated was how quickly the production got into the action.
At the Edinburgh Fringe, time is precious. Some productions can spend too long introducing characters and establishing situations before the story actually begins, eating into valuable minutes of an already restricted running time.
15 Minutes of Shame doesn’t have that problem.
We are introduced to the couple and their circumstances quickly, and from there the production starts moving along its trajectory. It means the audience isn’t left waiting for the story to arrive; we are already inside it.
The actors are very good in their individual roles and, importantly for a production centred around a relationship, convincing together. As the situation develops, tensions gradually mount between them and the consequences of their decisions begin to emerge.
There are also some well-placed humorous moments along the way. This helps prevent the production from becoming relentlessly heavy and gives the audience moments of release before returning to the more serious issues underneath the story.
Where 15 Minutes of Shame particularly succeeds is in its realism.
Rent needs paying.
Where does the money come from?
It is an incredibly simple question, but for many people it is also a very real one.
The circumstances surrounding this particular couple might be specific, but the financial pressure behind their decisions certainly isn’t. There are people making difficult choices every day because their income simply isn’t stretching far enough, and the production taps into that reality.
That is what makes the OnlyFans element more interesting. The decision isn’t presented in isolation. It exists alongside rent, financial insecurity, social media and the constant visibility of other people’s apparently successful lives.
We live in an age where someone can open their phone and immediately be presented with hundreds of people seemingly earning more, travelling more, buying more and achieving more. Whether those carefully curated lives represent reality is another matter entirely, but the pressure created by seeing them is real.
15 Minutes of Shame takes that contemporary environment and asks what happens when a couple decides they want a piece of it themselves.
The pacing throughout is also very good. There was never a point where I found myself becoming bored or waiting for the production to move forward. Each development leads naturally into the next, allowing the tension to build while maintaining the audience’s interest.
It is entertaining theatre, but there is something uncomfortable underneath that entertainment because situations similar to this will be happening to people outside the theatre doors.
This isn’t fantasy.
It is reality presented theatrically.
And that is something 15 Minutes of Shame understands very well.
There was one area which I thought could perhaps have been explored further, particularly if the production is developed again in the future.
The eviction itself happens relatively quickly and is represented through a lighting blackout. Dramatically, I wanted just a little more from that moment.
Eviction isn’t simply the physical act of losing somewhere to live. There is fear, uncertainty, embarrassment, anger and the sudden realisation that the place you regarded as home is no longer yours. Considering how much of the production is driven by the couple’s financial circumstances, I think allowing us to experience more of that emotional impact could make the moment even more powerful.
That isn’t necessarily something which can simply be changed during a Fringe run, but it could be worth exploring in a future development of the production. Giving that moment slightly more room to breathe could add another emotional layer to what we have already witnessed.
Overall, 15 Minutes of Shame demonstrates what a really good theatrical piece can achieve when the right elements come together.
There is a compelling premise, strong performances, good pacing, humour and drama, but most importantly there is relevance. The production takes something very contemporary and uses it to explore much bigger questions surrounding money, relationships, social media and the choices people make when they feel as though their options are disappearing.
It flows well, holds the audience’s attention and presents a story which feels uncomfortably plausible.
Compelling, contemporary theatre that hits close to home.
Overall rating: 4 Stars
15 Minutes of Shame | Edinburgh Festival Fringe
About the Author
