Thanassi is a strong advocate of innovative theatre, but even the title of the latest play he is producing proved an immediate challenge: “How do you actually promote this thing that’s called P*rnography (laughs).” Creating a web presence was a particularly curly proposition. “Try and do a search for us, and you’ll find a lot of trouble…
“Even sending stuff out to people, I’ve managed to get around it by putting an asterisk in place of the ‘o’ in the title, because otherwise whatever you send out ends up in people’s spam or junk folders. As long as I don’t actually spell out the word – it get’s through,” Thanassi tells Neos Kosmos. And how does the producer with over 15 years in the industry, spell out the premise of the play P*rnography?
“It deals with how we transgress in isolation, and how we are becoming more separate, funnily enough through the technology we thought would enable stronger bonds between us – we are, more and more, disconnected. Everything is happening virtually,” Thanassi says. Such themes of contemporary pressure and shifting platforms of communication via rapid social media play out in the historic seven days in London during which the G8 Summit, the Live 8 Concert, the Olympic Games announcement and the London bombings all occurred.
P*rnography was written by prolific English playwright Simon Stevens, and centres around characters who are linked geographically, by London and the events that impact upon the city, and who must deal with insecurity in a system that has previously provided them with order. Stevens is commenting on the pornography of this age, the lurid and the extreme elements that influence the zeitgeist.
“I think P*rnography is a really strong piece. This is completely resonant with what is going on now. It’s very confronting material,” Thanassi believes, and he has never been afraid of brave concepts. The current play is in line with a long held belief that theatre is a distinctive form of arts communication: “Theatre is live, you are not going to get as unique an experience, the performance is always being refined in front of you as you watch – that is the theatre experience.”
Award winning director David Myles first suggested the play to Thanassi, the two having worked together previously on Human Sacrifice Theatre’s production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. “This is a director’s dream. If you look at the actual play, the way that Simon Stephen’s wrote the piece, there are seven stories that the director can organise in any sequence he wants.” Myles has worked with the likes of Ingmar Bergman and Laurence Olivier and brings a wealth of experience.
And Thanassi is really excited that they have been able to secure The Beckett Theatre at The Malthouse, one of Melbourne’s most well regarded and free thinking arts institutions. “I’ve always wanted to do something at the Beckett, it’s a gorgeous venue.”
P*rnography is playing from February 20 until March 3 at The Beckett Theatre @ The Malthouse
 113 Sturt Street, Southbank, Victoria. Information and ticketing online at www.itsnotwhatyouthink.com.au