Like Sex
by Nathan Joe
Commissioned by Young and Hungry Arts Trust
Winner of 2016 Playmarket b425 Award
Why I Wrote… Like Sex:
https://issuu.com/playmarket/docs/plm.00404_playmarket_annual_51_inte/6
Basement Season (Auckland 2017)
Part of Basement School Programme (link to education pack)
Directed by Chye-Ling Huang
Produced by Nathan Joe and Jordan Keyzer (Exposed Theatre)
Prudes, sluts, users and the used - in a carousel of episodic scenes, Like Sex tears into the tropes of teenage sex as social, political and sexual desires smash together with no sign of slowing down.
Reviews
“well-written, perceptive insights into often pressurised explorations of exciting, scary, loaded sexuality.” - NZ Herald
“wouldn’t it be great to have this show on the school curriculum?” - Theatreview
“moves beyond the controversial allure of a socially taboo topic and offers an engrossing, provocative study of teenage (sexual) relations within the microcosmic society of high school.” - The Speakeasy
The cast of ‘Aotearoa Now’ acknowledging the audience, National Play Festival 2016
Aotearoa Now - National Play Festival 2016 (Australia)
Excerpts from Like Sex were performed as part of a showcase of New Zealand works at the 2016 National Play Festival (Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne). The other two plays showcased were Pip Hall’s Ache and Jamie McCaskill’s Manawa.
“Perhaps most impressive were this year’s two regional showcases, Lotus and Aotearoa Now, which featured works by Asian-Australian and New Zealand playwrights respectively. Formally daring and possessed of a striking energy, excerpts from these plays provided tantalising glimpses into cultures and dramaturgies that remain woefully under-represented on Australian stages.” - realtime
BATS Season (Wellington 2016)
Part of Young and Hungry’s Festival of New Theatre 2016
Samantha wants to bang Ben, Ben is in love with Mandy, Mandy is dating James, James is flirting with Natalie, Natalie confides in Lisa, and Lisa is using Gary.
In a series of episodic scenes, Like Sex captures the awkward, hormonal and selfish nature of teenage relationships in a real and honest way, with the characters revealing their lusty desires through the ‘joys’ of humanity’s favourite taboo.
A play for anyone who has ever been young and confused.
Reviews
“the thoughts, feelings and emotions generated by various types of relationships and encounters are brought out with great realism by the cast to make this a fascinating piece of theatre.” - Dominion Post
“Every scene is a gem refracting a truth we may be shocked to discover, pleased to see confirmed or thankful to be expanded by.” - Theatreview