Alex Franklin started HRT this year, she feels better than she’s ever felt before and she wants to share that joy with the Fringe through a mix of standup, song and Powerpoint presentations.
It’s a sold-out performance when I saw Alex, with the crowd being a mix of Gen-Z and Gen-X/boomer – a fortunate spread for the TikTok and WWII references to follow. She got a warm reception as soon as she bounded on stage, and her energy really transferred to us as the show went on. Covering such diverse ground as donating unwanted furniture via the Tube, why professional videogame championships wasn’t the sport a trans woman could excel at, and an increasingly unhinged variant on the ‘trolley problem’ thought experiment, Franklin had the audience howling.
Her experience of discovering her gender identity and sexuality and coming out to her family is conveyed honestly and clearly – terminology which may confuse newcomers is explained. Audience interaction isn’t a chore either; quizzes on identifying silhouettes as men and how often she’s left things behind in shops due to ADHD go down well.
Thought experiments is a theme Alex returns to, in particular Mary And The Black And White Room. As a metaphor for finally being in the body you’ve always wanted, it’s incredibly effective. Alex pours her heart out to us, and there’s more than a few tears by the end.
Alex explains her motivation behind the show: “I feel it’s been quite a rough few years for trans people. Often when we are talked about in the news, it’s negative. I wanted to make something that showcases the happiness that trans people experience when they finally get to embrace their true selves.” With Gurl Code, I think she’s done a stellar job at bringing this happiness to the Fringe.
****
Gurl Code is at Underbelly Cowgate 13-25 Aug