Sore Throats

Synopsis

A bare flat in South London, the 1970s. Tension crackles in the air like static electricity.

Judy, a 39-year-old woman reeling from her recent divorce, grapples with her newfound freedom and the emotional wreckage of her marriage to Jack, a 45-year-old police inspector. Their charged encounter in Judy’s new flat sets the stage for a raw exploration of their fractured relationship. As Sally, a 23-year-old flatmate, enters the fray, the play delves into the complexities of female friendship, sexuality, and the struggle to forge a new identity in the aftermath of domestic upheaval.

Howard Brenton’s Sore Throats is a searing, darkly comic examination of gender roles, marital disintegration, and the quest for personal reinvention. Through sharp, often brutal dialogue and a non-linear structure, the play captures the disorienting nature of emotional trauma and the desperate search for meaning in its wake. Brenton’s unflinching portrayal of his characters’ flaws and desires creates a visceral, sometimes uncomfortable viewing experience that challenges societal norms and expectations. The intimate setting of the flat becomes a crucible for explosive confrontations and moments of unexpected tenderness, as the characters navigate the treacherous waters of their past and an uncertain future.