In 2015, over 30 million users of the website Ashley Madison were caught up in a data leak that exposed their names, email addresses, and payment records. Ashley Madison wasn’t just any site—it was a platform for people seeking affairs. The leak revealed the names of celebrities, politicians, and other high-profile figures in a data attack orchestrated by a group of hackers known as ‘The Impact Team’. This remains one of the most infamous data breaches in history, and now, the story is coming to the stage.
Actor and theatre-maker Sean Mudariki will take audiences on a journey into a hidden world of infidelity and betrayal in his one-man show, Playing Ashley. Ahead of the show’s opening on 7 February, we spoke with Sean about this world-renowned event and what inspired him to bring it to the theatre.
When did you first hear about this story, and has it always been in the back of your mind as something to adapt into a show?
I first heard about Ashley Madison last year, and I was instantly captivated by it. I was so shocked that I had gone through most of my life not knowing about it. From the moment I learned about it, I knew I wanted to adapt it into a show. There was no doubt in my mind. The Ashley Madison story is one I would love to see on stage or the big screen, but there weren’t any narratives out there. I believed this story was highly entertaining and deserved to be seen by so many people, so that’s when I decided to create the show.
Who are we following in this show?
Is it one person’s experience, or does it draw on a collection of stories and perspectives? When you usually hear about Ashley Madison, the focus is on the 33 million people who had their information leaked and how they were caught having affairs. It gives a general sense of the aftermath or the reasons people joined, but the narrative rarely centers on just one person. Playing Ashley focuses on one man who is being blackmailed online after his involvement on Ashley Madison is exposed. It follows him as he evaluates his choices, tracks his journey over a limited period, and decides whether he is willing to let his Ashley Madison details be revealed to everyone he knows or if he will find a way to confront the blackmailer and keep his secrets hidden.
How does it feel to be the solo performer? Do you enjoy the experience of performing a one-person show?
Being in a one-man show is actually a terrifying experience. To be on stage alone is one of the most challenging things I’ve ever had to do as an actor, but it’s also one of the most rewarding. There is nothing more powerful than telling one person’s story and giving a platform to their perspective. I believe a one-person show is one of the most vulnerable way to tell someone’s story, and that vulnerability makes it so impactful.
Playing Ashley
What’s your process for developing your productions?
For our shows, we usually start with an idea and then have a week of intensive writing. During this chaotic week, ideas are flying around as we push ourselves to create as much as possible and lock down a starting script. Once we have a draft, we begin rehearsals. That’s when we edit the script and make changes based on feedback from the cast and other creatives. It’s a very collaborative process that allows us to incorporate many perspectives and ultimately create the best script possible. From that point onward, we focus on pulling the production together.
The show is described as cine-theatre. How are you incorporating this element and bringing it to life in the production?
The Ashley Madison scandal is a story with such a heavy focus on the internet, so we wanted to make the audience feel like they were online, immersed in a digital experience. To achieve that, we’ve incorporated several technological elements, such as projections, voiceovers, and other interactive visual effects that bring the digital world to life on stage.
You won the Best Theatre Award at Fringe World last year for Dance After Death. Can you tell us about that experience? Did it inspire you to return this year with a new production?
Winning the Best Theatre Award last year was something we never expected. It was the first play we had ever produced entirely on our own, so we didn’t anticipate it doing particularly well, let alone winning an award. It was such a validating experience that showed us there is so much potential for us to create theatre. It opened our eyes to endless possibilities. That experience inspired us to create another show, and this time, our aim was to be bold and create something even better than Dance After Death.
Describe your show in five words!
Black Mirror on a stage.
Playing Ashley is on at Subiaco Arts Centre from Feb 7-8.