Smoke + You Are Loved Review

Review by Giada

Tickets were gifted in return for an honest review.

The Omnibus Theatre hosted an engaging evening built around a collaborative format, where a play (Smoke) is followed by a discussion panel led by the LGBTQ+ organisation You Are Loved. It functions almost as a “second act,” with conversation becoming as integral as the performance itself. The post-show discussion creates a space for encounter, an opportunity to reflect on themes raised in the play. Each night’s conversation is different, responding to the urgent context of disproportionately high rates of premature deaths from suicide and drug use in the LGBTQ+ community, and aiming to address root causes such as stigma, shame, and loneliness.

Photo by Martin Perry.

Smoke is a queer comic-thriller, an intense story of obsession and delusion, populated by vivid, sharply drawn characters. It feels like an important play, told without judgement or easy moralising. When Alex wakes one day to a message from his dead boyfriend, he begins to spiral into unresolved grief, denial, and addiction, forcing him to confront long-suppressed emotions. We don’t necessarily like Alex, but we come to understand him and, crucially, to root for him. His journey, moving through sorrow towards acceptance, becomes transformative not only for the character but for the audience as well.

Writer-performer Alexis Gregory delivers a compelling, attention-grabbing performance, telling the story with honesty and frankness. His writing retains a distinctive sensitivity, balancing dark humour with compelling storytelling, and giving the piece both urgency and depth.

Campbell X’s direction feels deliberately restrained, perhaps out of respect for the subject matter and the script. At times, however, I found myself wishing for a tighter directorial grip, especially as the narrative deepens. There are moments where the staging could push further, closing in on Alex and leaving the audience as cornered as he is. Instead, it occasionally feels as though the writing is left to carry the weight alone.

Smoke + You Are Loved is a successful format, one that unites heart and mind. Most importantly, it opens a space, inviting audiences to sit with discomfort, to reflect and share, and perhaps to feel a little less alone.

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Smoke + You Are Loved ran at The Omnibus Theatre until Saturday 25th April 2026. The show tours through April until June. Visit https://youareloved.org.uk/tour for full tour dates and venues.

Photo by Martin Perry