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Theatre

Porn Play review – this isn't just theatre, it's a wake-up call

Ambika Mod plays Ani, a dazzling young academic with a secret addiction to violent pornography

Image: Helen Murray

Brutal on the psyche. This play dives headfirst into the unsettling story of a young, intelligent professional woman consumed by an addiction – not just to porn, but to a specific, violent genre where performers compete to invent ever more degrading, dehumanising acts against women.

Ambika Mod delivers a compelling performance as a university lecturer in denial, trapped in a cycle of compulsive viewing, masturbation, and the fleeting relief of orgasm. Her portrayal captures both the vulnerability and the corrosive shame of addiction.

Ambika Mod and Will Close. Image: Helen Murray

The production, staged with just four actors on a minimalist set, uses a looping narrative structure that forces the audience to sit with the discomfort.

It’s raw, relentless, and at times almost unbearable – yet that’s the point. You feel the physical and emotional toll of dependency.

Thankfully, the play balances its darkness with moments of sharp humour and insight.

A standout scene sees ‘Annie’ attending a Pornaholics Anonymous meeting, where we learn that many addicts start as early as 10 years old, escalating to increasingly extreme material by adulthood. It’s funny, yes – but also chilling.

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

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Reading this, you might decide to skip the play. Understandable, but a shame. Because this isn’t just theatre; it’s a wake-up call. Addiction – any addiction – can strip away everything: friends, family, relationships, career, reputation, home, sanity, and self-worth.

We can’t afford denial. This is the world we live in. We need vigilance, honesty, and above all, care –especially when it comes to children and the devices that can open the door to this dark spiral.

Porn Play is running at the Royal Court Theatre, London, until 13 December.

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