The unnamed narrator of Luke Kennard’s novel is an out-of-work actor living in London. His last job was three months ago, he is behind with his rent and has “measured out my life in coffees I cannot technically afford”. So when he comes across an advert – “Male actor required for psychological enquiry. Non-speaking but discretion and devotion to restrictive performance requirements obligatory” – he offers his services.
The job, he discovers, is at a university working under a psychology professor named Dr Blend. There he must strip to his underpants and zip himself into a black leather bag, in which there are two eyeholes and further holes for his feet. The actor is expected to sit silently in the bag during seminars while students contemplate his presence.
