When theatre maker Elsa Couvreur had her performance of The Sensemaker filmed and distributed online during COVID-19 lockdowns the last thing she thought would happen would be for her nude image to be spread all over the internet on pornography websites without her permission. Sadly, that is exactly what happened. Couvreur has been chasing down her own image ever since. In Embarrassed Naked Female (this show contains nudity) she breaks down her crusade against non-consensual image sharing and how she will not stop until her nakedness is erased from every corner of the internet.

Couvreur is a brilliant presenter. She straddles the line between satirical eyebrow waggling and serious performance with aplomb. Of course, context is required so Couvreur begins by recreating the approximately five minutes of the performance in which she is actually nude. After demonstrating to the audience what is being distributed online, she begins her lecture/performance. Couvreur’s sharp wit and intellectual humour sparkles as she covers pretty disturbing topics with a sardonic smile.

This show is an eye opener that’s for sure. Did you know that Embarrassed Naked Female (ENF) is actually a pornography category? It sees women forced to strip or unwillingly naked in public. The most disturbing thing about this category of pornography is how vitriolic its defenders get. As if having her naked image distributed against her will was bad enough – the men defending its place online have the audacity to be angry at Couvreur. The victim. Let that sink in.

Embarrassed Naked Female (this show contains nudity) is Couvreur metaphorically stripped bare. She is presenting a show, yes, but it is an intimate piece of truth telling and exposure of her most vulnerable self. I applaud anyone who can take dark and disturbing material and craft it into a witty and comical story. Couvreur’s story is not over yet, but by sharing hopefully love will go viral instead of misogynistic filth.