#Penetration

No one lies about rape. You either consent or you don't, that's absolutely clear. But what about when memories aren't as clear? The cast has been announced for #Penetration, a world premiere inspired by seven true stories of accusations and acquittal from 2014 to 2019.

When Sean is accused of rape by Anna, his arrest throws his world into turmoil. His mother Felicity, a lifelong feminist, knows women don't lie about rape just as surely as she knows her son is innocent. 'Innocent until proved guilty' is ripped up as Sean is exposed in the press, publicly abused and barred from his university, his course and his future. The interminable wait for prosecution finally drives Felicity from grief to a dark obsession.

This controversial play explores sexual boundaries, 'hook up' culture and the pervasive damage of social media. Rape is a horrendous crime with a minimum jail sentence of 5 years and those convicted are also added to the sex offenders' register indefinitely. But it can easily take two to three years for allegations to come in front of a jury and in the meantime lives are held in limbo; suspended in the moment of destruction, without resolution or alleviation.