Sudbury's 'Project ArmHer' showcases performances by sex workers and they don't want to be 'saved'

The team of artists, activists and sex workers behind a newtheatre production in Sudbury want you to rethink the sex work industry and the people who work in it.

Sarah Gartshore is the writer and director of the collaborative multi-media show called "Project ArmHer".It will be performed by people with lived experience in the sex industry and their allies.

Gartshoresaid rather than "othering" those in the trade, it'san effort to make sure thatinsightscome straight from the source.

"They own it. It's their stories," she said. "What they want to say is important, and the way that they want to say it is important, and they have a right to say it."

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Gartshore said the show explores variousdimensions of sex work through the lensof people who have chosen to do it.

"We believe that sex work is real work,"she said. "It's hard work. It can be boring, it canbe wonderful, it can be mundane, you can dread going to work, you can like going to work just like any job."

"In no way is this about saving anybody."

Gartshore said she hopes that sex work in Canadais someday decriminalized.

"There'll be a lot of people right now who are living in poverty, living in fear and danger who won't be anymore."

"ProjectArmHer" is happening at theErnieCheckerisTheatre at Thorneloe Universityin Sudbury on Sunday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. the same day as theInternational Day to End Violence against Sex Workers.