Who's watching Who?

Who’s watching Who?

The play, inspired by the true story of Edward Snowden, raises important issues in our information- heavy, internet-centred society. As we freely communicate all our thoughts, wishes, loves and desires on-line, or via texts, do we ever spare a thought for who may be reading them and for how long? Where might all this ‘data’ be stored and could it ever be used against us? Although the focus of ‘The Haystack’ is on the freedom of the press and the morality of GCHQ and its tactics, the theme is relevant to all of us who have a mobile phone, an oyster card, use a laptop, a visa card, a computer or the internet.

The debate is not a new one: how much freedom do we sacrifice in order to feel safe? Freud wrote about it in 1929 in ‘Civilisation and Its Discontents’, in which he describes how modern man sacrifices freedom for security. Some people argue that ‘if you have nothing to hide then you have nothing to fear’ but does information about us keep us safe or make us targets? Particularly if we have views that go against the status-quo. How much do we trust our own State with our information and rather pertinently in the current era, other outside States who may have access to it, legitimately or illegitimately.

The play is innovatively staged by director Roxana Silbert, using full-length screens to show the computer information that is vital to the plot and one of the characters, a Saudi princess, who only ever appears on film. All the actors are cleverly cast to be believable in their roles and the fast-paced movement of the play makes it feel both entertaining and current. If you are worried about becoming overly-paranoid after seeing a production about being spied-on through your mobile phone, then the play has the solution in the form of the Faraday Cage; if you wrap your phone up in silver-foil and put it in the microwave then your conversation can’t be overheard. Just don’t forget to take it out again before you start cooking.