Clickbait at Theatre503

What is it to be a feminist? In today’s society where women are struggling to achieve sexual empowerment but are criticised for doing so, Clickbait seeks not to provide solutions but to get its audience thinking.

Theatre503 presents the story of Nicola Barker, a young girl who finds herself the victim of revenge pornography after having unknowingly starred in a compromising video whilst on holiday in Ibiza. Determined to beat her blackmailer she takes the brave decision to post the video online herself. The hype that ensues leads her and her two sisters to a potentially lucrative business opportunity in the sex industry.

The dark humour of the piece makes Clickbait instantly accessible as the three sisters converse in their bedroom, each presenting a different stance on the subjects of feminism and pornography. Georgia Groome, best known for her role in Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging, puts in a convincing performance as the determined but conflicted Nicola, whilst mention must be made of the highly entertaining Alice Hewkin in the role of the young Chloe Barker. Chloe is a character who, despite her comic charm, provides sinister undertones to the piece as she calls into question the pressure that young girls feel today to grow up quickly.

A piece providing a dialogue on today’s society cannot be complete without mention of the importance and enveloping presence of the Internet. Here, the actors transform themselves into faceless Internet users with the use of animal masks, providing a startlingly honest commentary on the play’s events, which the freedom of anonymity allows them.

An exploration of pornography and our attitudes towards it, Clickbait examines how relationships are put to the test and how limits are pushed in the struggle towards one woman’s right to make her own decisions. Bold and unnerving, if not somewhat overwhelming due to the number of issues raised, this piece hits hard and is sure to divide opinion.

Michelle Keepence

Clickbait is on at Theatre503 from the 19th January until the 13^th February 2016, for further information or to book please click here.