Court cases have always intrigued a modern audience. Thanks to the popularity of courtroom dramas like Law and Order UK, Suits and The Good Fight, we have become hooked on how the case unfolds in front of and behind the scenes. What if the case on offer was one that was so grey in terms of how we perceive consensual sex and rape? Slut Confessions is a well put together drama exploring this very concept, but is taken further. What if three different women who would never in a million years meet in real life, were joined together by the man on trial? What would evolve with all three in the same room before the court case?
A gritty courtroom drama that leaves us wanting more
Despite being slightly thrown by the lights blowing mid show, this trio stay in character and carry on after saying they could continue with the house lights. This adds in an unusual sort of way to the dynamic of the piece, due to the somewhat creepy and sinister feel generated in the text.
They keep the set simple with three chairs with hints of costume, which also adds to the gritty element of the drama presented here. Each actor creates a strong unit as they transition from these aforementioned women to other characters that for instance, represent men with a predatory feel to them as they seek their prey for the next conquest, to podcast hosts that focus on what it's like to be a non feminist wanting to be restricted by marriage and motherhood, as opposed to being free and full of ambition and life. Putting all this together sets the tone for what is to come and has the right amount of energy for this piece. Occasionally they are vocally too quiet and need to raise the volume slightly without losing the power of the words.
The vulnerable honesty from the cast engages the audience as the wool slowly unravels. From the rape victim who realises that she didn't say no when she should have done, to the friend who doesn't seem to know what the accused is really like, to the lawyer representing the accused. Each story that unfolds intertwines with each other well and creates tension through a common thread that can follow women throughout their lives. When is freedom misconstrued as being, like the title suggests, a slut? Can women really have the same freedom as men and have the same respect? Each one showcases the individual nightmare stories from the dating scene with sensitivity and respect, taking it from the perspective of being young and targeted the most. The emotions are handled well and indicate there is more in common with these women than we first think.
Slut Confessions is a gritty courtroom drama that leaves us wanting more. One to keep an eye out for.
