REVIEW: SMOKE / YOU ARE LOVED COMMUNITY PANEL @ OMNIBUS THEATRE

🎭 Smoke / You Are Loved Community Panel

📍 Omnibus Theatre, 1 Clapham Common North Side, London, SW4 0QW

🗓 Wednesday 22nd April 2026

⭐️ 4 Stars

RAW, BRUTAL, AND BRAVELY HUMAN

Last night I headed down to the Omnibus Theatre in Clapham, and let me tell you, I wasn't quite prepared for the emotional workout Alexis Gregory had in store. His new play, SMOKE, is a bit of a genre-shifter: part queer thriller, part dark comedy, and 100% heart-on-sleeve.

The setup is chilling because it's actually real. Alexis based the script on his own experiences of being targeted by international hackers and the eerie, digital afterlife of the London queer scene. The plot kicks off when protagonist Alex receives an Instagram DM from his boyfriend. The catch? His boyfriend has been dead for two years. What follows is a dive into the "dead gay guy" trope on social media, the chaos of drug-induced psychosis, and the crushing weight of grief.

What I loved most was the balance. It's hard-hitting - properly punchy - but Alexis handles these heavy themes with such compassion and a wicked sense of humour that stops it from feeling like a lecture. Sure, you could argue that the delivery could be a bit tighter in places, but honestly, at the end of the day, it doesn't really matter. The energy and passion are there.

It's a hard watch at times, as you feel as if a close friend of yours is slowly unravelling before you, and there's nothing you can do as the paranoia overtakes him, and he moves further and further away from sanity.

The staging is purposefully exposing. The house lights stay up for most of the show, meaning there's nowhere for Alexis - or us - to hide. He's right there, making eye contact, interacting with the audience, and laying it all bare. It's a massive risk for a performer, and frankly, incredibly brave.

SMOKE is a vital piece of theatre that lingers long after the lights finally go down.

But the night doesn't end when the curtain calls. This tour is a two-part event. After a quick breather, we were back in our seats for a community panel hosted by Marc Svensson from the brilliant non-profit You Are Loved (YAL).

Every night the experts change, and on my evening the topic was Chemsex and Connection. It was powerful stuff. These discussions are so vital, and I was genuinely heartened to see almost the entire audience stay behind to listen. One audience member asked the big question: "How do we get this message out to those outside our community?"

And that's the thing - this evening isn't just for the gays! Whether you've personally navigated the queer scene or not, if you've ever dealt with grief, mental health struggles, or the messy reality of drug misuse, you'll find a piece of yourself in this story. Even if you haven't, if you're just a fan of raw, from the heart storytelling, you need to see this.

SMOKE and the You Are Loved Community Panel is at the Omnibus Theatre until Saturday 25th April. Click here to get your tickets.

Neill Kovacic-Clarke

All views are my own and I pride myself on being honest, fair and free from influence. Theatre is subjective and it is important to remember that all views expressed are just those of one reviewer.  

My ticket for this performance of Smoke was gifted by Chloe Nelkin Consulting who invited me to watch the show in exchange for my honest review. The fact that my ticket was gifted played no part in the content of my review or the star rating given. 

WRITTEN & PERFORMED BY:

Alexis Gregory

WITH A COMMUNITY PANEL HOSTED BY:

Marc Svensson from You Are Loved

RUNNING TIME (approx):

2 hours, including interval

CONTENT WARNINGS:

Adult language; Homophobic language; References to homophobic assault, drug misuse, sexual abuse and grooming, grief, mental health issues, psychosis, stalking, and suicide

AGE RECOMMENDATION:

16 +

To keep up to date with all the latest theatre news and more, follow Pink Prince Theatre on social media.

Find us on Instagram, Facebook, BlueSky and TikTok.