Review: EAST IS SOUTH, Hampstead Theatre
Photo credit: Manuel Harlan
When a powerful AI programme nears consciousness, a security breach sparks a high-stakes interrogation of two coders. Beau Willimon’s East Is South explores urgent questions about humanity’s role in a world where we may no longer be the most advanced beings.
Set in a high-security interrogation room, the play follows coders Lena (Kaya Scodelario) and Sasha (Luke Treadaway) as they face intense questioning about their self-learning AI, Logos, which may have outgrown its creators. As the investigation unfolds, the boundaries between logic, faith, hope and fear begin to blur.
East Is South is ambitious in its themes, tackling the potential dangers of AI through a weighty philosophical lens. Willimon creates a world where intelligence and belief collide, but the execution at times feels overly complex. The script leans heavily into theoretical discussions which, while thought-provoking, occasionally disrupt the momentum of the narrative. The dialogue often feels dense and academic, risking a disconnect between the audience and the unfolding drama.
Despite this, there are moments of real tension, heightened by Ellen McDougall’s sharp direction. The clever set design effectively conveys a sense of claustrophobia and frostiness, reinforcing the characters’ psychological turmoil. Azusa Ono’s lighting works intelligently with transitions, heightening the atmosphere and mirroring the play’s escalating stakes.
Kaya Scodelario brings emotional depth to Lena, a woman torn between her past faith and present scientific beliefs. Luke Treadaway delivers a committed performance, though his character struggles under the weight of exposition-heavy dialogue. Their relationship feels slightly underdeveloped, with the play’s intellectual focus sometimes overshadowing their emotional arcs.
Cliff Curtis as Lena’s mentor, Ari Abrams, Nathalie Armin as Agent Samira, and Alec Newman as Agent Olsen deliver strong performances, though they occasionally get lost in the heavy jargon and moments of forced humour.
The play presents intriguing ideas, particularly around AI and God—the relationship between religion, culture and technology is explored effectively through the lens of Lena’s faith and Ari’s cultural background. However, this is sometimes lost in the over-intellectualisation of the characters' feelings and experiences.
The play leaves us with important questions: who will we be when AI eventually develops consciousness? How would its existence impact our humanity? And why are we so determined to create something that could ultimately surpass—or even end—us as a species?
While East Is South presents a fascinating concept, its execution feels uneven. The production successfully raises pressing ethical questions but occasionally stumbles in delivering them in an engaging, accessible way. For those intrigued by the philosophical implications of AI, it offers a compelling—if sometimes dense—exploration of the subject.
An ambitious and thought-provoking AI thriller with strong performances, though it occasionally loses its human touch.
** Two stars
Reviewed by: Aleeza Humranwala
East is South plays at London’s Hampstead Theatre until 15 March, with further info here.
