Katie Pollock’s Hilariously Heartfelt Story Inspired By The Real-Life Facebook Group

Part takedown of capitalism, part wannabe dancing dildo musical, this one-woman play is a celebration of resilience, humour … and adult toys!

Through an intricate web of objects and a drive for community and connection, the members of Facebook group Rough Trade are giving the giant middle finger to capitalism, with trades that are funny, sexy, strange and touching.

Inspired by these true stories, playwright Katie Pollock (Normal, The Hansard Monologues) peels back the layers to reveal a character for whom life has taken a series of wrong turns, leaving her in a place where she is dependent on this internet community for her very survival.

★★★★½ “Rough Trade is a hilarious, heartfelt romp that will have you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Pollock is a brilliant playwright.” Sydney Scoop

The play premiered as part of the Made in Sydney program at the 2022 Sydney Fringe Festival, where it garnered critical acclaim and three award nominations including Best in Theatre and Best in Spoken Word.

Directed by Anthony Skuse and performed by the playwright herself, Rough Trade is a thrilling (and sometimes terrifying) examination of the ways capitalism and the patriarchy fail us, and the precarious position all women risk finding themselves in. Diving into the randomness and commonality of human nature, Rough Trade is ultimately a story of hope in challenging times.

“At times absurd and hilarious, at other times infuriating and then heart-rending, Pollockʼs monologue frequently catches you off-guard.” City Hub