Porn. We’ve all watched it at least once. Some of us probably watch too much of it. We know what we like and have our favourite flicks. A few of us may even have been in a porn film. But most of us will never know what it’s like on the other side of the lens with a camera shooting up your ass with a mouth full of cock. Hardcore opened at New Theatre in Newtown last week and looks at that very thing.

Four young guys attend an audition for a new skin flick, Hot Shooting Boys 2, and the play follows the lead up to and the actual filming day. There’s Robert, a German twink with a sugar daddy who’s there for the experience. Gay-for-pay actor Kevin is there to pay the bills and show his versatility, “after all, what’s more versatile than a straight guy doing gay porn?” The eye candy of the group is provided by Martin, the strapping ‘young, dumb and full of cum’ hottie with a big heart who’s looking for love. Lastly, there’s Craig, the cynical rent boy with a couple of films under his jockstrap who is only interested in men as just another fuck.

Being the only experienced one and a recipient of a ‘Stiffy Award’ for Most Promising Newcomer, Craig takes the boys under his wing for a weekend workshop to have a quick once over of their lines, and then each other. The boys find out as much about themselves as each other as their stories are revealed through a series of flashbacks, interspersed throughout.

The play is set in London and the accents are somewhat mixed though the guys do a pretty good job of maintaining them. The script moves along well for the most part though there are a couple of scenes that don’t seem to have much purpose and could do with some editing. Pre-recorded sound bites serve up laugh out loud moments throughout with clichéd phases and double-en-tendres.

Overall, the play is a lot of fun and doesn’t let itself get too bogged down with big messages the way a lot of gay plays do. Most importantly of all, there is enough flesh on show here to keep the biggest pervs happy and help Hardcore deliver to expectations.

Hardcore plays at New Theatre from February 4 to March 6. This production contains nudity, drug use, strong language and adult themes.