What is the new play at the Royal Court theatre about?

The new play at the Royal Court theatre follows Ani, a 30-year-old academic, as she grapples with a compulsive porn addiction that has already cost her a relationship.

How does the play "Ani" explore the issue of addiction?

The play captures Ani's "wearying compulsion" and the way her digital and physical worlds collide, with the search for release turning into a "grim habit." It blends elements of tragedy, horror, and comedy to depict Ani's isolation and emptiness.

What is the connection between Ani's story and the epic poem "Paradise Lost" by John Milton?

As a Milton scholar, Ani's story grapples with notions of lost innocence and the epic poem's sexual politics, as well as the ethical dilemma of separating the art from the author's behavior.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Addicted Academic Battles Porn Compulsion in Gripping Royal Court Drama

Addicted Academic Battles Porn Compulsion in Gripping Royal Court Drama

14 Nov

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Summary

30-year-old academic Ani struggles with porn addiction
Ani's porn use has led to the breakdown of her relationship
Play explores the "wearying compulsion of an addict"

Addicted Academic Battles Porn Compulsion in Gripping Royal Court Drama

In Sophia Chetin-Leuner's new play at the Royal Court theatre in London, audiences are taken on a gripping journey into the life of Ani, a 30-year-old academic struggling with a compulsive porn addiction. The play, which premiered on November 1st, 2025, toggles between Ani's digital and physical worlds, tracing her grim compulsion.

Ani's addiction has already led to the breakdown of her relationship, with her partner discovering her using porn while lying next to him in bed - a scenario reminiscent of Phoebe Waller-Bridge's Fleabag. However, unlike Fleabag's darkly humorous portrayal, Ani is deeply troubled by her behavior, which her father also becomes aware of when she retreats to her childhood bedroom.