I found myself at Laurels in Whitley Bay, a compact, characterful theatre space, to see HARD – a raw and provocative new play written by Alison Stanley. For such an intimate venue, I had expected a small cast juggling multiple roles. Instead, I was met with a full ensemble, each performer bringing something vital to the story.
The plot is straightforward in structure, easy enough to follow — but the themes it confronts are anything but. HARD lifts the veil on the adult sex industry, placing the lives of sex workers and their clients centre stage. These are stories that are rarely told and often kept behind closed doors. Here, they are given a voice.
There are flashes of humour woven through the production – sharp, necessary breaths that momentarily ease the weight of its subject matter. But at its core, this is a play about survival, stigma, and systemic limits. It explores what happens when an adult is looking for work that fits around their life, and the choices they find are stark, few, and often judged.
Crucially, HARD doesn’t just humanise the workers – it also examines the clients, many of whom are marginalised or isolated themselves. In one particularly difficult thread, the play bravely touches on domestic abuse. These moments are hard-hitting and may be distressing for some, but they serve an important purpose: raising awareness and demanding empathy.
The staging and use of props were highly effective. Though the performance space is small, it was used resourcefully to evoke a world that’s often hidden in plain sight – gritty, shadowy, and steeped in secrecy. The close proximity of the audience heightened the intimacy of the piece; at times, it felt like eavesdropping on lives we so rarely get to see.
Pacing-wise, the show moved with energy and purpose. There were no dull stretches – the dialogue was punchy and well-delivered, and each scene felt charged with intention.
One note of feedback: the Laurels website gave very little information about the production. A more detailed description or content warning would help audiences prepare, especially given the weighty themes. I wasn’t sure if I was walking into a dark comedy or a hard-hitting drama – as it happens, it’s both, but some guidance would be welcome.
I hovered between four and five stars for HARD – and eventually settled on four. The script is compelling, the performances are strong, and the production tackles important issues head-on. With a bit more tonal clarity and foregrounding of the play’s heavier elements, it could really land with even greater impact.
Does HARD raise awareness? Undoubtedly. It pulls focus on a world many of us know exists but rarely stop to consider. And for that alone, it deserves to be seen.
Catch it if you can – it’s running at Laurels until the 27th June, and it’s not one to miss.
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