News Article
Preview: NSFW
09 Sep 25
Sapphire Shoferpoor introduces her SLT directorial debut, Lucy Kirkwood’s sharp comedy about power games and privacy in the media and beyond.
What drew you to directing this particular play? And what does NSFW mean?
Lucy Kirkwood’s NSFW premiered at the Royal Court theatre in October 2012. I was drawn to directing it as it’s an incredibly sharp, witty, yet brutal depiction of the media industry, focusing on the fictional Doghouse magazine, a “lad’s mag” aimed at 18 – 35 year-old men.
NSFW is internet shorthand for “Not Safe For Work” — in other words, the kind of content that might lead you into trouble if viewing it in the office!
What themes does the play explore?
NSFW examines the drip-fed concept of ‘perfection’ and our relentless drive towards it. The play satirises women, lad culture, and the workplace — forcing us to consider what’s truly being said beneath our words. It is a gift to work on a play that probes deeply into the human psyche — asking how far we might go to preserve ourselves, and at what cost.
The characters undergo significant transformations, both literal and figurative. Without giving too much away, no one ends up where they began.
What aspects do you think will resonate with audiences?
Despite being set in 2012, there are striking similarities between the world of Doghouse and ours. In this ephemeral age of magazines and print journalism, appearance is of the utmost importance. Everything lasts only for a short time, much like the magazine itself.
We move from the tangible into an all-consuming digital era, where fleeting relevance and constant scrutiny carry their own anxieties. The material you see on stage has been sourced from lads’ mags — an eye-opening process in itself…
Tell us about the characters we'll meet
Aidan (Nat Segnit) is the charismatic, likeable, salesman-like editor of Doghouse. His team comprises highly intelligent Charlotte (Rebecca Reeves) who’s a bit of a workaholic and runs rings around her male colleagues; Rupert (Ed Smith), the “Eton Mess” who has a privileged background but loves boys’ locker room hi-jinks; and Sam (Raj Garcha) is the hardworking intern, full of youthful energy. Miranda (Mary Spillane) is the fierce and glamorous editor of female magazine Electra, and Mr Bradshaw (Chris Bennett) plays the protective father of Carrie who wins the Doghouse annual photo competition.
Describe NSFW in three words?
Lads. Survival. Ethics.
