The Desperation of Modern Love is Only a Key Stroke Away

The Desperation of Modern Love is Only a Key Stroke Away

Silo Theatre presents

8 Gigabytes of Hardcore Pornography
Declan Greene

Following the sellout success of their Auckland Arts Festival co-production The Book of Everything, Silo Theatre’s 2015 season offers up a startling and awkwardly recognisable portrait of contemporary life crisis. Eight Gigabytes of Hardcore Pornography, playing at Q Theatre Loft from 18 June - 11 July, showcases the extraordinary talents of young Australian writer and theatre-maker Declan Greene.
He’s addicted to porn. She’s addicted to spending. She’s self-conscious about her breasts. And so is he. Attempting to fill the void of loneliness, a man and a woman meet online in search of something better. Something different. But what happens when the grass on the other side turns out to be just as sh*t as the patch you’ve already got?
Whilst not visually explicit, Eight Gigabytes of Hardcore Pornography is a play that simultaneously thrills and astounds audiences who can relate to the hope and danger, glory and ruin offered by internet connections. These are hardcore interactions that are funny, tragic and quietly profound.

Acclaimed kiwi actors Bronwyn Bradley (Go Girls, Brotown) and Andrew Grainger(The Dark Horse, Top of the Lake) – both described as comedic powerhouses – bring their talents to this gripping two-hander which is a dramatic departure from the stock-standard theatre offerings of the all too common frumpy tales of love after 40. With a young writer (Greene) at the helm, this middle-aged story of finding love and a connection in the digital age avoids flabby clichés and tired theatrical tropes.

In the director’s seat, emerging director and accomplished actress Laurel Deveniemakes her directorial main bill debut with Silo. Laurel is the daughter of theatre legend Stuart Devenie and continues to develop a successful career in the arts working on both large scale community events and youth work. As an actor she has worked with Downstage Theatre and Auckland Theatre Company.

Silo has assembled a strong design team to create the contemporary world of this piece. New Zealand musician Paul McLaney returns to compose the music after winning an Auckland Theatre Award for his work on Silo’s 2013 production Speaking in Tongues. Following their critically acclaimed collaboration on last year’s Silo black comedy SundayRoast, set designer Daniel Williams and lighting designer Jane Hakaraia team up to design the performance space.

At only 30 years old, Declan Greene has already made his name in the Australian Theatre scene. His plays have been produced at the Malthouse Theatre, Sydney Opera House, the Bush Theatre (London), and Studio Theatre (Washington, DC). He has won multiple awards including the 2013 Max Afford Playwrights Award for Eight Gigabytes of Hardcore Pornography and is one half of the queer theatre-making duo Sisters Grimm (formed in 2006). Sisters Grimm describe themselves as making theatre that is “cheap, accessible, and extremely faggy.”
Silo Theatre Artistic Director Sophie Roberts and Greene workshopped this play together in 2013 as part of an exchange programme between Playwriting Australia and Playmarket NZ. It was at this early stage that Roberts was bowled over by the provocative, truthful and poetic voice of Declan Greene and the theatricality of the work. She was then compelled to offer this to audiences in her first Silo programme. The work is simply that strong.

ENDS

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