Driven by the need to survive, avenues subversive to the norm may be sought in order to make ends meet, acting as that step closer to achieving whatever dream aspired to. An exploration of the world of sex work seen through the eyes of four women, hard-hitting drama Sold by Mama delves deeper into the lives and trials of these women seldom really listened to and often silenced.
Located on the bustling streets of Los Angeles, a city enamered with the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, we see a very different reality, made crystal clear by writer and performer Dominique Izabella Little. Four tough, resilient survivors of abuse and trauma harderned, street-wise, business oriented, they bluntly tell their stories of working the streets, sold dreams that over time would turn out not to materialise, coerced into situations they were not fully aware of until it was too late.
Little vividly telling the stories of women typically ignored – Mama – a French Madame, Californian Queen of Recruitment, Blue – Renegade Appalachian hustler and Miss International all bringing with them their own perspectives that offer further insight into who they all are and how they’ve got to where they are today. Little taking on the four personalities and letting their stories mesh together, documentary-esque, as if the four are all being interviewed by us or an invisible interviewer who has the capability of drawing out the vulnerability we see, and they probably seldom show publicly. An engaging 40 minutes focusing on the taboo, creating a safe space for unveiling preconceptions.
Written by Lucy Basaba.
Sold by Mama is currently showing at the Hen and Chickens Theatre until Saturday 27th August 2022 as part of this year’s Camden Fringe. To find out more about the production, visit here…
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