Silk Road

About This Project

Emily Hubert, Producer

About: “Silk Road - an online black market. Sometimes called the Amazon.com of illegal drugs.” Meet Bruce, 19, unemployed and living with his Nan. When Bruce discovers how easy it is to buy narcotics online, his life and his Nan’s Ebay account changes forever. Prompted by the arrest in October 2013 of the alleged owner of Silk Road, playwright Alex Oates has written a play that cunningly masquerades as a less-than-serious tale about how simple it is not only to buy, but to sell drugs online. Starring James Baxter (Fringe First-winning Scarborough, Red Dwarf and Still Open All Hours), Silk Road opened at the New Diorama in July 2014 and was followed by a run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Outcomes: Following a successful run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, receiving excellent reviews, the Silk Road company are currently in talks with Live Theatre, Newcastle. There are plans for a regional tour of the production, should a run at the Live Theatre be agreed.

“To have such an organization backing us gave us credibility in Edinburgh and we will be forever grateful for the faith the Kevin Spacey Foundation had in the project and us as theatre makers.”