A fly on the wall exploration of the simmering tensions and boiling points of the gay experience in modern day Manchester.
Adam Zane’s explosive, steamy, heart wrenching play “Jock Night” opened at Seven Dials Playhouse this week. I felt very lucky to be witnessing this production in its freshest, rawest form during its first week of previews.
The play opens as we are fully thrust into the ChemSex culture that pulses through the gay community and will continue to ruminate throughout the piece. The characters are engaging in what appears to be exciting and steamy intercourse, you initially think it’s just two, Russ – the Gym Bunny, who starts rapidly gaining instagram followers as the play develops – and AJ – 19 years old, inexperienced, fresh faced and embracing the chaos. However, after a beat, we realise Kam – self proclaimed as undetectable and fabulous – is also joining in in the fun. And so the actors engulf us into their world. There is a sense that these characters are moths round a flame, flying, constantly chasing the next hedonistic high… However, when will it be enough? What event will have to occur to push them to stop chasing the chaos and filling the void within them?
The audience immediately adapts to the nudity, as we soon realise that this play is going to tackle something much darker than what appears to be on the surface for these characters: a fabulous non- stop party with sex and a concoction of substances: MDMA, Coke, Ket, G and to finish off – poppers. When Kam gets triggered by AJs off the cuff question “you’re all clean yeh?” Kam is undetectable – This means the levels of HIV he has are so low that the virus cannot be passed on. AJ, ashamed of his naivety, leaves the party.
All the characters are vibrant and beautifully written, a testament to Zane’s work, as he also directed the piece.
This is a masterclass in acting. Sam Goodchild (Kam) is incredibly watchable, fabulous in his own right, but quick to anger. There is a sense of claustrophobia, as we are always in a flat. The set largely stays the same with different add ons to the bed to suggest the time of year (a pride flag in August for – as Kam announces, ‘gay Christmas’ and fluffy blankets at actual Christmas.)
The heart and soul of this play lies in the ark of Ben (played by David Paisley with such tenderness and passion.) The audience rooting for him, falling in love with his kindness and his thoughtful and caring nature. He is daddy, the oldest of the group, and falls into a relationship with “porn performer” Simon, played by George Hughes, who gives a fiercely firey portrayal of someone trying to find their identity (and financial stability) in a world which consistently makes them feel out of place.
The writing is funny, the pacing was terrific, and there’s a bouncy, enigmatic back and forth between the actors… there’s always a back handed comment drowned in sass to be offered.
It truly was a marvellous, enthralling evening of entertainment.
Catch Jock Night at the Seven Dials Playhouse until 11th November (extended due to popular demand).
