FREAK is undeniably provocative. Juxtaposing lap dancing club orgies with first time sexual experiences, Anna Jordan’s sex-focused play seeks entry to the growing canon of flawed female characters playing up to the “hot mess” trope.

In turn Georgie and Leah address the audience in parallel monologues as their respective tussles with female sexuality bridge not only two generations, but two sides of a stage, and a double bed.

The split set is effective, if a little prop-heavy, and the performances manage to fill the high ceilings of The Space theatre – a hidden gem in the desolate landscape of the Isle of Dogs. However, rather than enticing the desired laughter from the audience sadly these threaded conversations often fall flat.

Megan Prescott, as the young and impressionable Leah, manages to capture the essence of the teenage journey towards losing your virginity. As she obsesses about Veet-ing her body free of hair, and considers sending naked photos of herself to her boyfriend, Prescott presents a child in adult skin trying to find her way under the male gaze. The performance is believable, Prescott emanating an air of hesitancy as she struts the stage in just vest and knickers, seeming self-conscious.

As the older and emotionally bruised Georgie, Sara Hooppell puts in a slightly more confident performance, successfully straddling sadness for the losses of her past and a thirst to feel alive and be desired. That said, it is in the moments of comedy where Hooppell thrives, with her well-timed one-liners about masturbating to daytime TV.

The two stories, and the inadvertent to and fro between the characters, climax with the revelation of the two women’s connection. Beyond Georgie’s abusive orgies with bankers and Leah’s revelation that she let her friend Sophie go down on her, FREAK stresses the need for female togetherness. This theme is foreshadowed with moments of dance where the two women meet. This movement is a nice touch, and edges the piece towards something more penetrating.

Ultimately despite FREAK’s attempts to shock, the play errs too close to an already well-trod narrative. It enters interesting territory as it seeks to understand the pressures of female sexual emancipation, but its attempts to become a bedfellow to Fleabag, and even Bridget Jones before that, seem to flail under the weight of its subject matter.

FREAK first debuted at Edinburgh Festival in 2014, and frankly it shows. The conversation surrounding female sexuality has evolved and in the current climate this production lacks nuance. FREAK may hint at dark emotions, but sadly fails to stir them.

FREAK played The Space until August 12.