Are You Watching? - Royal Court Theatre

As the show was starting, the producer came into the auditorium and announced that there had been a few injuries within the cast, and so they had spent the whole day rehearsing the piece to present us something regardless. What they presented was a flawless piece. Shocking, perverse and altogether a difficult watch. But flawless. That's live theatre.

The whole design of this show, put together by Georgia Wilmot on set and Bethany Gupwell on lighting, is sensational. As you walk into the room, you see the space split into two sections of seating, each facing the other. In the middle is a set which spans the entire length of the room. With white bathroom tiles filling the floor, small walls enclosing the stage, and a full length mirror on the ceiling, you feel as though you have entered a sort of psychiatric ward. It is very bare in set and props, with bunk beds on one side covered in children's patterns and a camera and tripod facing them on the other. You feel quite uncomfortable walking in, and honestly? That was just the start.

Photography by Madeleine Penfold.

Are You Watching? is a piece which intertwines many different stories, all surrounding a topic that is becoming alarmingly relevant: pornography and its weaponisation for the abuse of women. These characters, of all ages, deal with incredibly tough issues, among them a female actress being digitally manipulated with AI for violent adult videos and being told by her male agent that she should own the narrative and announce that she is not ashamed, that she is a woman. Such rhetoric may seem well intentioned, but through countless stories on social media and news channels, I have begun to understand how the justice systems seem to treat victims of such violence.

The cast is absolutely superb. Lucy McCormick plays both the young actress and the mother of a kidnapped teenage girl. Her performance was gritty and raw, absolutely commendable in the face of such difficult material. Nicholas Rowe played her agent, amongst other roles, and his ability to switch from a gold-digging and emotionally stunted character to a gentler register as he portrays a father is impressive. I could go on about the entire cast, but what I really want to address is the writing.

This year I have seen some incredible works, the highlights of which were written by women. I have mentioned many a time that when it comes to stories about women being quietly abused by men and then silenced, ignored or even blamed in the aftermath, no one is better placed to protect the nuances of these vulnerabilities than a woman. Are You Watching? proves my point yet again. Georgie Dettmer joins the ranks of incredible female-identifying artists who have managed to capture the horrific realities of today’s society with absolute rage, rawness and honesty.

This is a resounding five star success. A rough watch, but a success nonetheless.

Production Value: 90%

Value For Money: 90%

Personal Enjoyment: 80%

Overall Score: 87% - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5*)

(AD | gifted in exchange for an honest review)

Show Information

Venue: Royal Court Theatre, London

Playing until: 4th July 2026

Run Time: Approximately 65 min

Tickets for this production are now SOLD OUT. Check the theatre's website regularly for returns.