Cocaine

Cast: Geir Thomassen as JOE, Phoebe Alice Ritchie as NORA Director: Sushant Nair Writer: Pendleton King Additional Text: Sushant Nair Producers: Geir Thomassen and Sushant Nair Presenter: Actinium Media Ltd

Cocaine by Pendleton King is a one-act play, originally published in 1917, that delves into the psychological and emotional turmoil caused by drug addiction. The story has been adapted for the 80s decade, and centres on the character of a former boxer, Joe, once full of potential, whose life spirals downward as he becomes consumed by his addiction to cocaine.

He struggles with the overwhelming cravings and the need to escape from reality. Also, caught in the turmoil of growing cocaine addiction is Nora, who wrestles with feelings of love, helplessness, and frustration.

Through these characters, King explores themes of dependency, self-destruction, and the impact of addiction on relationships. King's writing is poignant in its portrayal of the human psyche, and the work is rich in themes of self-deception, moral decay, and the conflict between desire and consequence, making it a powerful commentary on the broader societal issue of drug addiction.