Smoke 2023 - Articles Page 3

SMOKE by Kim Davies is a modern adaptation of August Strindberg's groundbreaking play, Miss Julie.

The story takes place in 2014 at a New York City ‘BDSM’ party. Julie (Meaghan Martin; Never Not Once - Park Theatre, Camp Rock) is a privileged college dropout dipping her toes into the world of S&M. John (Oli Higginson, The Last Five Years - Southwark Playhouse & West End, Bridgerton) is a cynical struggling artist willing to act as her guide. Their whirlwind encounter starts as a sexually charged game of cat and mouse. As they get to know each other, these seemingly self-possessed characters have their boundaries and notions of consent challenged. The consequences are irreparable and unsettling.

SMOKE is a piercingly witty and sometimes painful exploration of gender, sexuality & desire. This play champions sex positivity while also imploring us to better understand the nuances surrounding consent and the widely ostracised world of kink.

The play was a Critics' Pick of The New York Times and Time Out New York. This all-new production marks its London premiere and is co-directed by powerhouse female team, Polina Kalinina and Júlia Levai.