Writer: Sam Went
Director: Beth Drury
Blue Bar Productions returns to Lion and Unicorn Theatre this month with its unnerving production of Sam Went’s Red Pill, following an acclaimed short run earlier this year.
Red Pill is a fictionalised portrayal of #gamergate and the insidious impact it has on a small group of friends. Briefly, #gamergate arose in 2014 as a backlash to more diverse and progressive narratives being championed within the gaming community. A sub-sect of gamers banded together online to reject feminism and political correctness in video games in the name of preserving the ‘gamer’ identity.
In Went’s script, each character is morally positioned to provide something different in the clash of ethics. Chris (Alex Ansdell) is the unemployed protagonist with low self-esteem who becomes increasingly engaged in an online community led by Tyler (Matt Penson), a persuasive alt-right spokesman. Roommate Joe (Chris Mawson) represents the most ‘neutral’ everyman party, learning of #gamergate in real-time with the audience. Meanwhile, friend and romantic interest Cassie (Grace Lilley) is naturally the biggest advocate for female representation in gaming.
Went has taken a big swing in confronting the alt-right community, particularly with the pervasive nature of the topic in contemporary society. A light touch would undermine the gravitas owed to the material, while an overly preachy approach could easily become a cheap head-nodding exercise for viewers.
Much to the delight (or more aptly, discomfort) of its audiences, Went’s script is intelligent, informed and equally as unsettling as it is incredibly well-written. On the one hand, this makes for quite the viewing experience and one which should not be entered into lightly. Yet, the nuanced portrayal of radicalisation feels like it should be essential viewing because of, rather than despite, its hard-to-digest content.
The complex material presented in Red Pill requires a strong marriage with the right director and Beth Drury is certainly up to the task. They keep the information-packed production moving with pace and precision, resulting in an intense 90-minute experience which is over before you know it.
Drury’s direction is also clear in the calculated presentation of Tyler, the most malevolent presence of the piece. Together with Penson, the pair has curated a character whose tone would have you believe they are completely reasonable, almost charming even, if it weren’t for the increasingly hateful rhetoric he underhandedly weaves into existence.
As the subject of Tyler’s persistent pressure, Ansdell gives an engaging and painfully understandable portrayal of how propaganda can soothe a wounded ego. Lilley and Mawson also give impactful performances as the well-intentioned gaming buddies trying to appeal to their old friend’s new sense of morality. Lilley’s passionate persona is particularly difficult to see treated like a punching bag solely on the basis of her gender.
When handling such sensitive themes, intention is everything and Blue Bar Productions has put a lot of care into this presentation. From ensuring female and global majority voices balance out the creative team to the incorporation of an Anti-Racism and Inclusion Consultant (mezze eade) and Intimacy Co-Ordinator (Kim Wright), everything about this production is carefully considered and it shows.
Red Pill focuses on a specific cultural moment in 2014, but its impact and messaging are as clear as ever in contemporary society. This is one of the most important nights you might ever spend in a theatre.
Runs until 25 November 2023
