SMOKE at Omnibus Theatre Review

Written by Charli for Theatre & Tonic

Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review. All views are our own

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SMOKE, written and performed by Alexis Gregory, is a poignant reminder that storytelling doesn’t need flashy props or gimmicks in order to resonate, especially when raising awareness about important societal issues. It’s a reminder that if a story has heart and leads with truth about the human condition, then you will be able to mould your audience like putty in the palm of your hand. 

SMOKE follows Alex, a 44-year-old man who has just woken up to find a DM from his boyfriend Ben. Except Ben is dead, and has been for two years. What follows is Alex trying to hunt down Ben’s hacker and, in the process, he begins to fall into a spiral of grief-fuelled paranoia. The situation is heartbreaking, and yet Gregory has managed to sprinkle humour throughout in a way that felt appropriate and welcome. 

Gregory was magnetic in his delivery of this raw and personal one-man show. As it started, he sauntered onto the stage with complete non-chalance, immediately breaking the fourth wall and drawing in the audience so we felt like we were part of the story. He spoke to people in the front row, sat on the staircase in the auditorium, and made eye contact with individuals throughout the evening - something that was both confronting and compelling. The intimacy of this connection made it feel like he was a friend telling you this tale. He was relaxed and sincere, making the story feel deeply human. 

As the story unravels, we start to realise this is an unreliable narrator and so Alex’s closeness to the audience begins to feel eerie. There’s no set, no props other than a single chair, and no special lighting, in fact the house lights were on, completely exposing Gregory to our gaze - no room for error - and he handled that with ease. 

One aspect I really appreciated was the commentary around technology that could be seen in the first half. Alex’s phone feels like another character in the play, showing how this device has become both an extension of ourselves and a portal to the lives of others. As Alex tries to determine between what is real and what is fake, he begins to question: what is reality anyway? As AI continues to play a bigger part in our lives, the conversation around technology's dominance is increasingly essential.

The evening was in collaboration with You Are Loved, a charity that supports and raises awareness for those in the queer community who are impacted by suicide and drug misuse. Gregory’s play is centred around this issue and delivers it in a way that is never preachy - simply shining a spotlight on something that needs addressing. As one of the few women in the room, I don’t think this story should be confined to just those in the LGBTQ+ community, but deserves to be heard by us all so we can work towards fundamental change.

SMOKE played at Omnibus Theatre from 21-15 April.

★ ★ ★ ★