Former Olympic diver Matthew Mitcham continues to stretch his theatrical muscle tissue.
The Australian has been based mostly within the UK for the previous few years and selecting up fringe theater work. His newest position is maybe his most revealing but, given he spends most of it sporting simply underwear.
Mitcham is one in every of 5 males to characteristic in a revival of the play, Jock Evening. Queerty lined the present when it performed in London in 2023. Though it would at first seem a racy excuse to observe a gaggle of males in jockstraps and harnesses, it tackles some critical topics.
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Specifically, the recognition amongst some homosexual males for the chemsex, or PnP, scene. The characters within the present hang around at a cruise membership—known as Jock—earlier than all-night classes of group enjoyable, pill-popping and powder snorting. It touches upon points resembling loneliness, self-worth, consent and intimacy.
“World of temptation”
The present was written by Adam Smith and first appeared in 2017. It took place from interviews he carried out with homosexual guys who indulged commonly on the PnP scene.
Following a profitable run in Manchester, it made its London debut in 2023. Smith and theater firm Hive North have now introduced it again for one more run in Manchester and London.
In addition to Mitcham, the solid contains David Paisley, Gabriel Clark, James Colebrook and Eddie Ahrens.
“It’s so simple for individuals to get lured into this world filled with temptation,” author Smith advised the Manchester Evening News not too long ago. “The play explores among the the reason why individuals would possibly select to get entangled in chemsex, however I didn’t need it to be one other homosexual play the place individuals die and it’s simply pure trauma and distress.”
Certainly, one review of the brand new manufacturing notes that it gives “heartfelt, snigger out loud and emotional moments all through.”
“One factor that saved arising was that folks spoke about how they felt that taking the medication typically gave them a way of value,” Smith says. “You understand, it helped their psychological well being or, it meant that, for these hours, they didn’t have to consider the issues that they have been stressing about. It’s the identical with alcohol.”
“I don’t know of the rest like this”
Mitcham has been open about his personal struggles with drug use up to now. He commonly took medication as a younger teen. He developed a meth addiction early in his diving profession earlier than ultimately taking himself to rehab.
“My first response after I learn that script was I discovered it fairly unhappy. As a result of loads of it’s my story,” Mitcham says in a promotional video for the present. “I don’t know of the rest like this that truly talks about chemsex.”
Take a look at me being all backstage-y ready to go on stage at Jock Evening. In Manchester till 31 Might, then in London 3-15 June.
I’ve hyperlinks to tickets and my spicy web page the place you’ll be able to see extra of me in my precise costume at https://t.co/quPVczfbV3 😉 pic.twitter.com/eGiyr6hwWs— Matthew Mitcham (@matthew_mitcham) May 25, 2025
Jock Evening performs on the Hope Mills Theatre in Manchester till Saturday (Might 31), after which on the Seven Dials Playhouse in Covent Backyard, London, from June 2-15.
Take a look at some extra manufacturing photographs from the present beneath. Right here’s hoping it enjoys a US manufacturing or makes it to the display to achieve a wider viewers.
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