Darknet by Rose Lewenstein
First performed: 14 April 2018
Cast: Allen Gyuri Sarossy, Gary / John / others Naveed Khan, Kyla Ella McLoughlin,Steve / Mitch / others Robin Berry, Jamie Jim English, Stacey / others Rosie Thomson, Candy / others Greer Dale-Foulkes.
Director: Russell Bender
Designer: Mila Sanders
Lighting Designer: Katharine Williams
Sound Designer: Edward Lewis
Video Designer: Benjamin Walden
Creative Technologist: Henry Garner
Description
Darknet is a play based in the near future where information/data has become the main form of currency, a hugely influential company called Octopus pays you for using their platform and sharing information it will then sell your information to third party companies In this system you have a score (your score is how much your data is worth) your score will go up if companies think your data is worth more to them and down if not, an example would be “a company is looking into a category of data about people with specific interests and as such the people with those interests data goes up in value”.
In this play it focuses mainly on three people, Kyla, Allen, and Jamie. At the beginning their stories are separate but as time goes on you can see how they all interlink to tell the story of this dystopian world created by Rose Lewenstein.
The meaning behind the name
The Darknet features as a main plot point in the story the Darknet is a place where people can go to buy illegal materials and items such as guns, drugs, porn etc. It is to a point the driving force behind the story.
What is a Darknet?
The dictionary definition of Darknet is “a computer network with restricted access that is used chiefly for illegal peer-to-peer file sharing.” This means that it is a way of sharing files or talking anonymously, In my opinion the play is called this because the play deals massively with the privatisation of data and in detail to our rights to privacy and using Darknet as the title gives off the impression of having something to hide because a Darknet is a means of communication that is highly challenging to track.
Character analysis
Girls voice:
1. WHO AM I?
I am a teenage girl of roughly 14 and a name wasn’t specifically given but I have named her Brooklyn Cole as it seems to be a stereotypical Bully kind of the name. I am the personification of the voices of teens on the internet. I am nasty to people I don’t like and bully them. i tend to stick to my own circle of friends and am i the popular group. I like puppies and kittens and social media, none of my dislikes are mentioned but I’d assume anything outdoorsy I wouldn’t like very much. My enemy would probably be Kyla as I tend to bully her almost every time I’m onstage as this character whether its from the internet platform or the actual stage itself. I am in high school.
2. WHAT TIME IS IT?
It’s in a dystopian future and I appear at any time in the day but mostly in the internet world.
3. WHERE AM I?
South London and the internet world.
4. WHAT SURROUNDS ME?
Normally social media or places outside waiting for Kyla.
5. WHAT ARE THE GIVEN CIRCUMSTANCES?
Constantly on in the internet and bullying Kyla doesn’t do anything else.
6. WHAT IS MY RELATIONSHIP?
I have a relationship with the other girl’s voices that seems to be friendship and a relationship with Kyla as we bully her.
7. WHAT DO I WANT?
To bring Kyla down a notch and make her life miserable but to also be popular within my friend group.
8. WHAT IS IN MY WAY?
Kyla arguing back and being defiant.
9. WHAT DO I DO TO GET WHAT I WANT?
Be nastier towards her.
Employee:
1. WHO AM I?
An employee of Octopus Inc. I am 19 years old and have just joined as a new recruit. I am extremely excited about being picked the leading company of the world at that current moment.
2. WHAT TIME IS IT?
Morning 10am-11am time roughly and set in the dystopian future.
3. WHERE AM I?
In a meeting room with Allen Young with the rest of the new recruits.
4. WHAT SURROUNDS ME?
Desks and chairs and computers.
5. WHAT ARE THE GIVEN CIRCUMSTANCES?
Wanting to work up the ladder to a higher position in Octopus Inc.
6. WHAT IS MY RELATIONSHIP?
I am acquaintances with my co-workers
7. WHAT DO I WANT?
To prove I am worthy of the job given to me.
8. WHAT IS IN MY WAY?
Other employees.
9. WHAT DO I DO TO GET WHAT I WANT?
Work hard and prove myself to be better then the other new recruits.
Vendor:
1. WHO AM I?
A vendor selling drugs on the Darknet. I am 22 years old and I sell armed weapons on the Darknet.
2. WHAT TIME IS IT?
any time of the day in the dystopian future.
3. WHERE AM I?
The internet.
4. WHAT SURROUNDS ME?
Other vendors and Elektra.
5. WHAT ARE THE GIVEN CIRCUMSTANCES?
Selling illegal items on the web.
6. WHAT IS MY RELATIONSHIP?
I do not have any relationships to any of the characters in that scene but do notice Heinsenburg.
7. WHAT DO I WANT?
To sell my weapons to buyers.
8. WHAT IS IN MY WAY?
Possibly getting caught or buyers not wanting to buy my products.
9. WHAT DO I DO TO GET WHAT I WANT?
I will sell my product more amusingly and to a wider range of audiences.
Clerk:
1. WHO AM I?
A clerk in two court cases. I am 25 and oversee the court with the judge.
2. WHAT TIME IS IT?
During the day in the dystopian future. Both court cases happen at different times in the dystopian future but happen at the same time onstage.
3. WHERE AM I?
A court room
4. WHAT SURROUNDS ME?
Juries and judges of the jury, the Magistrate, the defendants and prosecutors and the accused and witnesses.
5. WHAT ARE THE GIVEN CIRCUMSTANCES?
To see whether Allen and Jamie are guilty or not guilty.
6. WHAT IS MY RELATIONSHIP?
I have a working relationship with all the characters on stage.
7. WHAT DO I WANT?
To get to the end of both court cases with a clear answer of who is guilty and who is not.
8. WHAT IS IN MY WAY?
Nothing is in my way.
9. WHAT DO I DO TO GET WHAT I WANT?
To watch over the trials.
Reviews
Public opinion:
The play was averaging 4 stars on time out (https://www.timeout.com/london/theatre/darknet#tab_panel_3), my other source of information on the public opinion on the play came from this useful YouTube video that intervened people right after seeing the play (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24FYMne8BBk) with this and the reviews given, you can see that the play was liked by a lot of the audience.
Professional reviews:
Theses reviews are highly different from those given by the general public, theses reviews seem to focus on the exaction and technicalities of each scene. The professional reviews given aren’t as good, they average around 2 out of 5 stars in a younger theatre’s review of dark net it states that “a script riddled with clichés, and very little action” and time out’s review said “A few bright moments but this tech satire is confusing and muddled” there is a clear divide between public opinion and professional reviews this is interesting to see but does not particularly help make clear the overall quality of the play.
(https://www.timeout.com/london/theatre/darknet) time out’s review
(https://www.ayoungertheatre.com/review-darknet/) a younger theatre’s
Research UAL definition: The ability to select, edit, interpret and respond to relevant material in support of lines of enquiry, and the level of initiative, commitment, personal responsibility and resourcefulness demonstrated in developing and progressing identified goals
Fail Little or no evidence presented or information does not relate sufficiently to task.
Pass Sufficient relevant information has been gathered, documented and used in the development of ideas.
Merit Thorough and sustained research and investigation of relevant sources, interpretation and synthesis of information used to inform, support and develop ideas.
Distinction Independently identified, thorough and sustained research and investigation of a range of relevant sources, insightful interpretation and synthesis of information used to inform, support and develop ideas.
The above statements are guides to how evidence for the final unit (8) will be assessed. Tutors will let you know in their feedback how your evidence for these units compares to these achievement standards so that you are aware of the level you are currently working at.
Caitlyn Taylor Level 3 Acting 
Caitlyn, you haven’t yet published any of the research work that you have been doing for the production you have been cast in. I need to be able to see what work you are doing so that I can give you feedback on it and help you to achieve the highest standards. I am not expecting to see the completed task, as you will have to keep researching throughout the process of this production, but I am expecting to see the start you have made on this. Please get your work published to this page as soon as possible.
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Caitlyn, you have fallen very far behind and are endangering your place on the course. You will need to come in during Study Week and get this work done. You were warned during Induction that your attitude and approach to the level 3 standard of work was lacking and you do not seem to have made any attempt to change. You will have to come into college during Study Week and get caught up to where we expect you to be with your progress.
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There is still no research evident. What did you do over the Study Week?
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Caitlyn, this is really quite thin for level 3; you have only just gathered sufficient relevant information and you haven’t really documented where you gathered it apart from a few web addresses. This isn’t really good enough for level 3. It is also not very clear how you have used this information to inform your understanding and development of ideas in your production of Darknet and the roles you were playing. You have barely scraped a Pass for this work which is very disappointing when I consider your performance in the show.
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