Rose Lewenstein's DARKNET to Premiere at Southwark Playhouse

Potential Difference today announce the world première of Darknet, a new play by Rose Lewenstein. The production reunites director, Russell Bender and writer, Rose Lewenstein, for their third collaboration. Darknet opens at Southwark Playhouse on 18 April, with previews from 14 April, and runs until 7 May 2016.

"You're not even a fully formed person yet. Your face is still changing and your bones are still growing but already there's a detailed map of your personality out there and companies you've never heard of are getting rich off it."

Welcome to Octopus Inc., the internet giant that allows users to exchange personal data for currency. But not everyone is prepared to sacrifice their privacy for an easier life. A teenager subverts the system in an attempt to save her mother. A visionary tech exec takes shortcuts to get ahead. A convicted cybercriminal chooses between two kinds of freedom.

Darknet navigates the hyperlinked world of data transparency and the uncharted deep web, uncovering the things we share and the places we hide. "With new innovation comes fear of the unknown." The production has been developed with input from top academics, journalists and specialists working in technology, cybersecurity and online behaviour.

Darknet has been developed over the past three years by writer Rose Lewenstein and director Russell Bender. Their organic relationship means they work together closely from the outset with each stage of research, writing and development workshops informing the next.

Rose Lewenstein has been a member of the Royal Court Young Writers Programme and their subsequent groups, including the 2012 Supergroup. Her first play Ain't No Law Against Fish 'N' Chips received a staged reading at the Royal Court Young Writers Festival. Her other credits include Now This Is Not The End (Arcola Theatre), Game Of Life (Yard Theatre), Only Human (Theatre 503),Entries On Love (Rich Mix). Her latest play Psychoslut was featured in the Women@RADA season. She recently took part in film London's Microwave scheme and is co-writing a new feature film. In addition to her work as a writer, Lewenstein has led playwriting workshops for the National Theatre, Central School of Speech and Drama and East 15 Acting School. She is published by Nick Hern Books.

Russell Bender directs. His work as a director includes Kiss Of The Earth (Concert Theatre, 25 venue UK tour), The Shroud (Rich Mix/Norfolk and Norwich Festival), Game Of Life (The Yard), EMO (ATC/Bristol Old Vic, Young Vic). He has developed work at Battersea Arts Centre and the National Theatre Studio. In 2011 he was a staff director at the National Theatre. He has assisted directors including Simon McBurney, Bijan Sheibani and Tom Morris. He was a runner up of the 2009 JMK award for young directors and the 2012 Leverhulme Bursary at the National Theatre Studio. He has taught at UCL, East 15 Acting School and Central School of Speech and Drama. Outside of his theatre work, Russell has 8 years' experience in freelance software development.

Alongside the performances, Potential Difference will be presenting a series of post-show events exploring some of the ideas behind the show including privacy, security and how to stay safe online.

Potential Difference is a theatre company with a passion for telling stories that communicate complex theoretical ideas and their impact on the world around us. With each piece, they collaborate with academics and specialists, allowing their input to infuse the story, characters and staging. Through this unusual creative process, they aim to create theatre that is intellectually and viscerally engaging and challenges the divide between sciences and arts.

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