Review: Porn Play (Royal Court)

Review by Daz Gale

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Royal Court is one of London's most exciting and thriving theatres, always offering an eclectic mix of shows boasting a mostly high quality. If you were to head there at the moment, you would see somebody masturbating frequently and furiously over the course of 90 minutes. No, they haven't got a security problem - it's at the centre of Porn Play, playing at the Jerwood Theatre upstairs. But would this play manage to sustain its duration to reach a satisfying climax, or would I find myself faking my enthusiastic response?

Porn Play centres around Ani, a young academic in the prime of her life and about to receive an award for her work. To the outside eye, she seems to have it all - however, she is hiding a secret addiction to violent pornography, causing her to masturbate excessively. This starts to creep into all aspects of her life, affecting her relationship, friendships and even her work. Can Ani find a way to reign in her uncontrollable desires and restore a healthy balance to her everyday life?

Written by Sophia Chetin-Leuner, Porn Play is a no-holds-barred depiction of sexuality, addiction and control, taking an unfiltered and uncensored look at a subject that can be considered taboo and not spoken about in public.Frequently shocking, it is unapologetic in its attempts to do so and is quite refreshing in its open, stark honesty. Chetin-Leuner’s writing beautifully weaves conflicting tones, offering moments of comedy throughout, only to pull the rug from under you (quite literally in one part) with a darker moment near instantaneously. This can result in uncomfortable laughter in places, but it is this authentic response that made Porn Play such a captivating watch for me.

Equally shocking is Josie Rourke’s direction, in the best meaning of the word. Quite unconventional, Royal Court’s smaller Jerwood Theatre Upstairs space has been transformed in a way I’ve never been. Upholstered in cushion, Yimei Zhao’s set design comes with its own set of rules - no drinks, no large bags and shoe coverings to be worn at all times. The reason why becomes clear as the cast gets incredibly close, heightening the intimacy of the play. Routke uses this to her advantage with a real creative use of the space. The deceptively sparse set is full of secrets hidden away, with many moments surprising - just when you think you’ve seen it all, another trick in the stage is revealed. Rourke’s direction extends to the characterisations - though Ani’s addiction can be graphic at times, and some may think it crosses the line of decency, this is very much intentional, and Rourke uses this to her advantage, humanising Ani even when she loses herself to her addiction.

At the centre of the action is Ani, played to perfection by a completely exposed Ambika Mod. Mod’s ability to tap into the character and demonstrate her conflicting traits and descent into her addiction is fascinating to watch, and executed with precision and perfection. A truly gifted actor, it proved impossible to take my eyes off of Mod, even when the scene was a bit too uncomfortable to watch. As Porn Play nears its climax, Ani’s exposure takes on a new level, with an emotive performance full of authenticity. Ani is a demanding role, but Mod gives it her all, and then some - the result is an astonishing and urgent watch.

The other three cast members take on a multitude of roles, showcasing their versatility. Will Close has very different characters to tackle, first as Liam’s long-suffering, tortured boyfriend, Liam, and later on as her student, Sam. The range Close has in these roles is exceptional to witness, never putting a foot wrong. Asif Khan has a comparatively small but memorable role as Ani’s father, bringing some of the emotional weight into her scenes with her. The cast is completed by Lizzy Connolly, taking on the widest range of roles and matching the genius performance from Ambika Mod in their collaborative scenes. Her turn as an unnamed student created one of the strongest scenes in the play, followed swiftly by another example of Connolly’s talents as Ani’s friend, Jasmine,

Porn Play is going to split opinion, but isn’t that the beauty of theatre? Yes, it is uncomfortable. Yes, it is graphic. And yes, it is completely unashamed of who it is, owning its identity, flaws and all. That is why I found myself falling in love with it. Though I was uncomfortable at times, I was always enraptured and in awe of the writing, direction and lead performance from Ambika Mod. It might not be perfect, but it is certainly distinct, unlike anything I have ever seen before. It may not be to everyone’s taste, and this is one play where I would definitely advise checking the content warnings before visiting, but I left Porn Play feeling incredibly satisfied by what I had witnessed, with not a drop of regret.

Porn Play is at Royal Court until 13th December. The entire run is sold out but keep an eye on  tohttps://royalcourttheatre.com/events/porn-play/ to find out about any more tickets released

Photos by Helen Murray