Impact Play: From Clichés to Connection by Riccardo & Lara

Impact Play: From Clichés to Connection

More than a workshop focused solely on the practical “how-to” of using impact-play tools, this session explores how to build a scene rooted in connection.

The workshop will help you discover your own style, create scenes centred on mutual desire, integrate consent throughout your practice, and develop a sense of identity and individuality in your play.

Rather than simply following familiar patterns, tempos or copy-and-pasted techniques, tutors Riccardo / RockerOcelot and Lara / Bleak.temple invite you to join them for an evening of exploration and experimentation.

Workshop flow

The session will begin with an introduction to the history of impact play and the physiology behind pleasure and sensation in the body, before moving into practical approaches to the practice.

The evening will conclude with an open play and jam session, during which participants can experiment and receive guidance from Riccardo and Lara.

Bottoming perspectives will be integrated throughout the class.

What to bring (optional)

• A notebook and pen, if you would like to take notes
• Any impact toys you would like to use—some toys will also be available during the workshop

Duration: 2.30 hours

Bios

Riccardo / RockerOcelot (he/him) is a London-based artist whose work focuses on contemporary social art. He has been active within the London kink community for more than ten years.

From the early stages of his BDSM journey, his interests have centred on impact-play practices and the exploration of topping from different perspectives within the role.

In 2022, he began working with leather to create impact-play toys, kinkwear and accessories, establishing Ocelotcrafts as a small artisanal business for his creations.

Since 2025, he has facilitated impact-play workshops that challenge the barriers, assumptions and clichés surrounding both the practice itself and the role of the top. Instagram @_ocelotcraft_

Lara / Bleak.temple (she/they) is a Bristol-based performer and kink practitioner whose work explores the intersections of embodiment, endurance, ritual and vulnerability through BDSM.

Active within queer and alternative community spaces, her approach to impact play is shaped by a strong interest in somatics, consent and emotional intensity, as well as the ways physical sensation can become a transformative tool for connection, catharsis and play.

Alongside participatory performances, workshops and community-led events, her practice focuses on creating deeply human, exploratory and playful spaces. Her work challenges assumptions surrounding power, pain and intimacy, encouraging a more nuanced and expansive understanding of impact play beyond dominance, performance and spectacle.

This workshop is part of the cultural programme of Stück, curated by Lidia Ravviso. It is open to people of all genders and backgrounds. We maintain a zero-tolerance policy toward xenophobia, homophobia, ableism, or any form of discrimination. The venue is fully accessible and includes an accessible bathroom, cloakroom, and changing room. There is a sober bar.