Some Explicit Polaroids, opening at UNE next week, is an emotional roller-coaster of death, sex, love, drugs, and consumerism.
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Mark Ravenhill's play, student director Tyrone Cross said, is in-your-face theatre.
"It's about confronting the audience, making them feel a lot of emotions, and getting a visceral response from them."
Britain, 1999: Political terrorist Nick (Jake Hunt) has been released from prison after serving a 15-year sentence for attempted murder. He tries to return to his old life - but discovers society has completely changed. Thatcher's UK, with its rioting and activism, has become the pleasure-hungry, fun-loving Britain of Blair.
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Nick develops a relationship with a table-dancer, Nadia (Rosie Ochtman); through her, he meets the dying Tim (Alex Evans) and his Russian mail-order boyfriend Victor (Jesse Donaldson).
His ex-lover Helen (Elias Moffat) has given up activism and rioting to become a councillor, intent on becoming a local MP. And Jonathan (Sid Bobban), the man Nick tried to murder, is seeking revenge.
It might be black comedy, with a lot of hyped-up energy and fun, but it's not a play that you can just sit back and enjoy, Tyrone said.
"It's there to challenge, to make you think - and also have a good time."
He cautioned that it's only suitable for 17 and older, with some sexually explicit scenes.
The audience can expect to be challenged, even angry or confused, while the actors may enter their space, and make them wriggle in their seats.
This is the second play Tyrone, a fourth-year theatre student, has directed. His debut last year was Ravenshill's first, short play, Shopping and F**king.
He would like to break into professional directing, but has also acted, and has experience in stage management and script-writing.
"As long as I'm in theatre, I'm happy," he said.
Some Explicit Polaroids, presented by the UNE Friends of Theatre Society, runs at A1 Arts Theatre, UNE, from Thursday, August 15 to Saturday, August 17, at 7.30pm, with a matinee at 1pm on Saturday. Concession: $15; adults: $20. Tickets available at door, or from www.trybooking.com/BDTVJ.