Open Clasp guest blog: Mycelial and the global fight for sex workers’ safety

On International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, we share a guest blog from our member, Open Clasp. Open Clasp are a theatre company, based in the North East of England, who “aim to Change the World, One Play at a Time.” Here, Catrina McHugh, Artistic Director of Open Clasp, shares insight into the origins of and context for their new film, Mycelial, which explores the shared experiences of sex worker activists worldwide.

Mycelial has been available to watch online on the Open Clasp website throughout the 16 Days of Activism until 17 December 2024, the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers.

Catrina McHugh MBE: In 2016, I had been invited to run a workshop for the North East Sex Workers Forum. It was here I became aware of the debate between two camps of thought regarding the decriminalisation of sex work versus the Swedish Model (Nordic). The Swedish Model advocates for criminalising the purchase of sex (through buyers and third parties), whilst decriminalisation advocates for the removal of criminal penalties for any consensual exchange of sexual services. I asked if Open Clasp, with its track record of making theatre for discussion and debate could help and they said yes. We planned, fundraised and co-created Mycelial with sex worker activists from the Aotearoa/New Zealand Sex Worker Collective, groups who gathered in the Republic of Ireland and those in the North, along with groups in the North of England.

I've been touring with Mycelial, which is a theatre production captured on film, and we recently flew back from Aotearoa/New Zealand, where sex work is decriminalised. It’s just been 16 Days of Action to End Violence Against Women and Girls, and we need to shout loud and clear, this has to include sex workers. When in Ireland with Mycelial we learnt that the 16 Days of Activism is a time of anxiety, as the police will actively do raids under the guise of Welfare Checks and ‘helping’ sex workers. Sex workers in Ireland feel under attack, from the police with surveillance, vigilantes and an everyday real threat of violence. The power is now with the client, his fear of arrest means he dictates the rules. We made a production, Sugar, for BBC iPlayer in 2021, where a character says she “had a split second decision to make, do I get in the car or will he smash a hammer to my head.”

Under the Nordic Model, that split second has now been taken, sex workers’ time to assess and negotiate has gone – buyers will push them into dangerous situations to avoid being caught, and they get in the car as they still need the money. The character Rocket Girl in Mycelial says: ‘it’s all in his control, he says come down a dark street, (he can’t be arrested), you go further than you would have before’. The streets and community gone, no safety in numbers. How is this legislation ending violence against women and girls, if you’re a sex worker?

Whilst we have been in Aotearoa New Zealand, I have understood that violence and sexual assault is still a reality, but the sex worker has an opportunity to report, if she wants, and to be supported without fear of being criminalised herself. You feel the difference, on the ground – the difference of legislation that takes the criminality out of sex work.

Mycelial has a job to do through storytelling. Sex worker-led organisations need to be heard, supported and funded. They know what is needed to end violence against sex workers: listen to them and watch Mycelial, co-created by them. Sex workers will tell you what is needed for them to be safe, and from what I have witnessed over the past four years and beyond, it’s not the Nordic Model.

Mycelial was developed with the support of National Ugly Mugs, a national sex worker-led advocacy organisation, and Agenda Alliance member. Their Co-Ordinator, Lynsey Walton says:

"Mycelial allowed me to see myself and my friends in a way we have never been seen before. By focusing on the personal stories of the central characters, it showcased a powerful fight for justice through the diverse perspectives of sex workers worldwide. These are individuals with rich lives and experiences, not defined solely by their work as sex workers. Watching this film filled me with pride for my community, while also evoking sadness for what we have lost. Most importantly, it opened up a new way to discuss why decriminalisation is the ONLY option. I encourage everyone to share Mycelial with their friends, listen to the voices of sex workers, and remember the National Ugly Mugs principle: ‘Nothing about us without us.’”