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.

The play, directed by Josie Rourke, skillfully blends elements of tragedy, horror, and comedy as it captures the "wearying compulsion of an addict." Ambika Mod delivers a riveting performance, conveying Ani's isolation and emptiness in a way that is both moving and unsettling. The production's design, by Yimei Zhao, transforms the Royal Court's small upstairs theatre into a padded den, reflecting Ani's attempts to conceal her addiction.

As a Milton scholar, Ani's story also 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. Chetin-Leuner's ambitious play offers a clear-sighted yet sanguine chronicle of Ani's relationships, both with others and with herself.