This play experiments with ‘love drugs’

On The Effect

Linden Furnell: I’m familiar with [the playwright] Lucy Prebble’s earlier work and am so impressed with the authenticity of her characters. She’s all about the subtlety of relationships, but she also touches on questions of ethics. I loved The Effect immediately.

Nikki Muller: Adrian [Pang, co-artistic director of Pangdemonium] sent me the script and I read it in one sitting. It’s brilliantly written; these scenes have such an intensity. I love that it asks a lot of tough questions. It’s also very witty, sexy and fun!

On 'social experiments'

LF: Adults who volunteer are different from animals that don’t consent, so I have no problem. But I don’t think a social experiment in a lab does justice to the complexity of the real world – which is one of the points the play touches on.

NM: There are risks involved. If you believe in the advancement of science then it’s certainly worth the risk. I would personally never do it, though. I’m rather old-fashioned and believe in meditation, counselling and reiki as forms of healing.

Lessons learnt from the play

LF: All the rationality in the world might not help you when you fall for someone.

NM: It’s taught me to live in the moment. But on the subject of neurological science, I’ve learnt that there’s a real demand for these drugs.

'Love' in one sentence

LF: It’s the only thing that makes life worthwhile.

NM: It is the fuel that allows us to truly see this world in detail.

Most romantic thing you've done

LF: I write plenty of songs about past loves – does that count?

NM: Surprising someone with a trip and not revealing the destination until we reached the airport. There’s nothing more romantic than creating memories together.

Valentine's Day plans

LF: Probably drinking whisky and playing board games.

NM: It depends on whether someone invites me to spend it with them [laughs]. I haven’t organised anything, but I’m sure the universe has a plan for me.