Consent

Written by Nina Raine
Awards:

  • Olivier Award Nominee for Best New Play (2018)

Synopsis
Consent is a sharp and provocative courtroom drama that examines the complexities of truth, morality, and justice. The story revolves around two couples whose lives are intertwined through personal relationships and professional obligations as lawyers. The play delves into the dynamics of power, gender, and betrayal, centering on a rape trial that forces each character to confront their own biases and moral compass. Through its biting dialogue and intricate storytelling, Consent challenges audiences to question the nature of truth and accountability.

Themes and Analysis

  • Justice and Morality: The play explores the gap between legal justice and moral truth, highlighting the limitations of the legal system in addressing deeply personal and emotional issues.

  • Power Dynamics: It examines how power plays out in relationships, both in the courtroom and in the characters’ personal lives.

  • Gender and Consent: By addressing the complexities of a rape trial, the play engages with broader questions about consent, societal expectations, and systemic biases.

  • The Personal and the Professional: The overlapping spheres of the characters’ work and personal lives create tension and provoke ethical dilemmas.

Key Moments

  • The Courtroom Scenes: The trial serves as the narrative’s focal point, with intense cross-examinations revealing the biases and strategies of the legal profession.

  • The Dinner Party Arguments: Heated discussions among the characters about morality, fidelity, and the justice system lay bare their flaws and hypocrisies.

  • The Revelation of Infidelity: A subplot involving betrayal within one of the couples adds a personal dimension to the broader themes of trust and accountability.

  • The Final Scene: A poignant conclusion forces the characters—and the audience—to grapple with unresolved questions about justice and responsibility.

Critical Reception
Consent received critical acclaim for its razor-sharp writing and thought-provoking exploration of justice and morality. Critics praised Nina Raine for her ability to tackle challenging subject matter with wit, nuance, and emotional depth.

The Guardian called it “a brilliant, ferocious play,” while The Telegraph described it as “a gripping moral inquiry into modern relationships.”

Why It Resonates Today
In a world increasingly focused on questions of consent and systemic inequities, Consent feels more urgent than ever. Its examination of legal and personal ethics offers audiences a chance to reflect on their own beliefs and biases.

Fun Facts

  • Nina Raine drew on her own experiences observing courtroom trials to create the play’s authentic legal scenes.

  • The play’s title reflects its dual focus on legal consent in the courtroom and emotional consent in relationships.

  • Consent premiered at the National Theatre in London before transferring to the West End, where it earned widespread acclaim.