East is South, Hampstead Theatre, stage review: ‘Urgent and thought-provoking’
Luke Treadaway and Kaya Scodelario in East is South. Photograph: Manuel Harlan
Are there sorts of reasoning that are essentially human? Forms of expression that are quintessentially divine? Or will artificial intelligence ultimately enable us to go beyond our own powers to something intellectually and metaphysically superior?
These are the deep and undeniably pressing issues treated in East is South, a new drama by American playwright Beau Willimon premiering at Hampstead Theatre.
An intense philosophical thriller, the play takes the audience through a series of different views on the appropriate ties between artificial and human intelligence.
The production, directed by Ellen McDougall, makes good use of a two-story set to figure the relationship between Lena and Sacha, coders at an organisation in charge of a powerful AI algorithm.
The pair are working on developing code to limit the ability of the algorithm to overpower humans, but they get seduced by the ‘thought process’ of the software they are building and come under suspicion from the authorities.
In a level above, government agents monitor and comment on the unfolding story below, intent to discover a truth that may elude them.
In 2025, there are clearly limits to the power of technology, as a theatre malfunction meant that there was no video display on the night I attended, such that images meant to have been flashed on the set were not visible. This did not have a noticeable impact on the quality of the show, however.
Standout performances by Kaya Scodelario as coder Lena and Cliff Curtis as Jewish-Māori intellectual Ari Abrams carried the performance to its gripping climax.
This is an urgent and thought-provoking play, with fast-paced action that draws the audience into its esoteric themes.
East is South runs until 15 March at Hampstead Theatre, Eton Avenue, Swiss Cottage, NW3 3EU.