‘You watch porn. Right? You don’t have to tell us. That’s not what this is about.’ Read more …
In 2017, pornography is all around us and the amount we watch it is growing at an exponential rate: in the UK alone, 10 million porn videos are watched every day. As society’s access to pornography increases, so too does our unwillingness to talk about it. The Coolidge Effect seeks to break this taboo.
Devised from interviews with porn advocates, addicts, mental health experts and scientists, these unique stories and viewpoints are told through four intertwining narratives:
George, a Gameboy wielding teenage boy; Gary, a father lost in the depths of his own addiction; pioneering porn producer Gail and Retrospect, an ex-porn addict who wants you to understand.
The Coolidge Effect uses an interactive blend of storytelling, poetry and science to examine how pornography affects our mental health, relationships and sexual experiences.
A brave attempt to talk about the impact of internet pornography on human sexuality.
It is a plea, if not to get touchy feely, then to switch off our hard drives and to open up to a world of possibilities beyond the virtual.
Some aspects are less successful—those dance movements, for example—but there’s no doubting this show is educational, informative and entertaining.
There's nothing titillating about this cleverly-written production, which tackles a difficult theme with respect. But perhaps in taking such a measured approach, some degree of theatricality has been lost. Nonetheless, this is an honest, well-crafted performance which should keep people talking.
The Coolidge Effect explores the taboo subject of modern porn.
Tron Theatre, Glasgow from Wednesday September 27, 2017, until Saturday September 30, 2017. More info: www.tron.co.uk