We meet the man behind one of this year’s most impactful pieces of queer theatre
Alexis Gregory’s one-man verbatim theatre piece Riot Act enjoyed an acclaimed but all-too-short run at the Kings Head Theatre earlier this year. With emotional and intense real life accounts, the play puts across the queer experience through the eyes of three different people, all with gripping stories of their lives on urban gay scenes. Now, in honour of World Aids Day, it’s making a return, this time to the West End! We spoke to Alexis to find out more.
Hi Alexis! So first, for people who don’t know, give us a rundown of what RIOT ACT is all about.
I created and perform the play. I stand on stage, on one spot for an hour and play three different gay men; a Stonewall survivor, of whom there are few or none left, a radical-drag artist and an ACT-UP AIDS activist. The three monologues are created out of my interviews with three real-life heroes, Michael Anthony Nozzi, Lavinia Co-op and Paul Burston. ‘Riot Act’ is hard hitting, moving, in-your face, funny and very queer.
What’s the most important thing affecting LGBT people right now?
I think in many ways our community is fractured and that can be really saddening. I’ve seen examples recently where members of the community have jumped at the chance to attack others in a really troubling way, perhaps online for example, which of course spills over into everyday life. I think the reasons for this behaviour are complicated but include insecurity, self-hatred, and responses to feeling of exclusion and fear of being rejected again. Sometimes I think we all just need to be kinder to each other and to ourselves. Our community archives amazing things when it comes together.
What do you think we all need to be most aware of?
We need to not take our freedom for granted. Hate crimes are rising in London – LGBT people are still being attacked in the street in 2018. I believe there is a societal backlash, from some quarters, in response to our perceived progression. We need to be aware of that and protect ourselves and combat it. We also need to be aware that many members of our community are vulnerable. Young queer people are still taking their own lives.
Tell us a bit about your personal experiences as a gay man. How’s life?
Life is good. It isn’t without challenges; as a gay man and as a human being generally. But I think I’m doing ok. I still make loads of mistakes and wish I had done certain things differently on the regular though! One good thing about getting older is that there are loads of new mistakes to make too. I guess that keeps it varied and nicely mixed up!
And finally…give us the lowdown on this special one-off show.
It’s a special West-End Charity Gala performance in aid of and with all proceeds going to the Dean Street Wellbeing programme to fund their amazing work. It’s also a chance for our community to come together and explore where we have been, where we are and where we’re going. I’m really looking forward to performing that night. I think it’s going to be wild. If anyone is coming down, I can pretty much guarantee you will have an amazing night. That’s a pretty bold thing to say but sometimes a boy has to be in this city.
Riot Act is on Monday 26th November at 7pm. Tickets available at nimaxtheatres.com.
