In a world where reality and fantasy blur, acclaimed playwright and performer Alexis Gregory is set to premiere his latest solo queer thriller, ‘Smoke’, at The King’s Head Theatre. Running from November 2-10, this provocative piece promises to be a wild assault on the senses, offering a peek into hidden queer subcultures and the complexities of living in the digital age.
Gregory, known for his boundary-pushing work, describes ‘Smoke’ as “even realer” than his previous productions. “It’s completely conversational,” he reveals. “I almost want the audience to think, ‘Has this guy just walked in off the street and started telling us this story?'”
The play follows Alex, a writer who receives an Instagram message from his boyfriend Ben – two years after Ben’s death. What begins as an seemingly ordinary hack quickly spirals into a mind-bending journey through the protagonist’s unraveling world.
“We delve into a bit of an underworld in this play,” Gregory explains. “There are networks and groups. Often on social media, I’ve seen pages where there are people who believe they’re being gang-stalked or are targeted individuals. It’s this whole world of paranoia that’s bubbling under the surface.”
‘Smoke’ tackles a myriad of contemporary issues, from the obsession with self-documentation to the normalisation of drug use within certain queer circles. Gregory doesn’t shy away from the darker aspects of these themes but infuses them with his trademark savage humour.
“Life is crazy at the moment,” he muses. “One thing that I look at with this character Alex is how he’s on the edge. And I feel like lots of people in London are on the edge.”
The production strips away theatrical artifice, featuring no lighting effects or technical flourishes. It’s just Gregory, his story, and a mobile phone – creating an intimate, exposed atmosphere that mirrors the vulnerability of existing in our hyper-connected world.
Directed by the acclaimed Campbell X, ‘Smoke’ continues Gregory’s tradition of creating work that pushes boundaries and sparks conversations. “I always try to have a different feel to each play,” Gregory says. “The subject matters tend to be kind of queer themes which I think are a bit out of the box and not that obvious.”
Previous critics have hailed Gregory’s work as “frank, warm and uninhibited” (Evening Standard) and “essential queer theatre” (Metro). With “Smoke,” he aims to challenge audiences once again, exploring the blurry lines between reality and fantasy in our post-truth era.
“I hope that I just hear people talking about it after and that it opens up conversations to them and their mates,” Gregory shares, emphasising the play’s potential to resonate with viewers long after the curtain falls.
‘Smoke’ runs for 60 minutes and is recommended for audiences 16 and older due to its mature themes. As Gregory puts it, “Come join us. We’re at this fantastic new theatre in London, The King’s Head. I think it will be a special experience.” Listen to our full interview with Alexis on Queerly’s Stage and Screen podcast below:
Don’t miss this opportunity to see one of British queer theatre’s most provocative voices in action. ‘Smoke’ promises to be a thrilling, thought-provoking journey into the complexities of modern queer existence – one that will linger in your mind long after you’ve left the theatre. Tickets are available here.