House of Cards Writer, Laura Eason's SEX WITH STRANGERS at Q44 Theatre

Olivia, a thirty nine year old broke and obscure novelist has retreated to a secluded bed and breakfast in rural Michigan. Enter Ethan, fast-talking twenty eight year old, social media celebrity and best-selling author. A blizzard rages outside. There is no Wi-Fi. Free from technologies distraction, they argue, they drink, they flirt and they have sex... a lot of sex. A relationship begins, but can it survive the internet?

Q44 Theatre presents Laura Eason's exploration of privacy, identity and digital media, directed by Gabriella Rose-Carter.

Technology has profoundly changed the dating game. Awkward phone calls have been replaced with text messages and emails, private break ups and intimate moments become public and someone else is a swipe away. What hasn't changed from Shakespeare to now, is our need to connect, and the lengths we go to, to pretend that we don't, what we put up with in terms of love and the struggles we have loving, connecting and being intimate, something Laura Eason hits on beautifully in Sex With Strangers.

"Laura Eason endeavoured to take a risk with this play. She wanted to explore what it means to be intimate, exposed, naked and known. I see this play as an intimate discourse of ideas that arouse exposing question." says Gabriella.

Laura Eason is the award-winning writer of more than twenty plays, and as a screenwriter has written for the popular Netflix drama, 'House of Cards'.

"Boy, can I relate to Laura Eason when she says, "there's something about this mode of communication (social media) I'm uneasy with". "I'm not alone" said my inner voice.

To explore the importance of communication and the human need for connection is at times excruciating and exhilarating.

Eason wrote these two characters ten years apart, the older woman and the younger man. Their age difference represents a crucial interval in the larger cultural landscape and a generational divide. Those who learned the mode of communication (technology) and those who where born into it. A universal prevailing that fascinates me." says Carter.

"A twisty and timely two character drama about lust, love and the complex nature of identity in our digital dominated era" -The New York Times

"A thoughtful comedy about privacy and publicity. Eason offers resonant observations about how technology both eases and complicates relationships" -The New Yorker

"Sexually and intellectually provocative... A hell of a lot of fun!"

Season Information

Previews: Aug 15th, 16th

Season: Aug 17th - Sep 3rd

Performance Times: Mon-Sat: 7.30pm, Sun: 6pm

Venue & Booking Information

Q44 Theatre

Bookings: www.q44.com.au

Address: 1st Floor, 550 Swan St, Richmond VIC 3121

Tram: Route 70 Tram, Stop 16 - Park Grove/Swan St (Burnley)

Train: Burnley Train Station (Glen Waverly, Lilydale, Belgrave, Alamein lines)