I Licked a Slag's Deodorant

Synopsis

Slag, a crack-addicted street-walker from the North of England, navigates the grim reality of her existence by negotiating unsafe sex with clients. Her life is a heap of discarded elements, much like a slag heap, reflecting her struggles and the torrent of anger and desperation she feels. Man is a vulnerable, broken individual who ends up living under Slag’s bed, surrounded by the remnants of her harsh life, including fluff balls and used condoms. Man is reminiscent of Dostoevsky’s Underground Man, filled with existential despair, and a Kafkaesque figure, akin to a beetle, highlighting his dehumanised state. Throughout the play, these two characters try to salvage an awkward intimacy amidst the squalor and desolation that defines their lives.

The narrative unfolds in a confined, grim setting where their interactions reveal their inner turmoil and desperation. Slag’s language is raw and torrential, mirroring the ferocity of her struggle, while Man grapples with his identity and existence. Their encounter is a poignant exploration of life at the margins, marked by moments of dark humour and deep despair.