Jerker is a daring and seductive two-person drama about two strangers who connect through a series of late-night phone calls. Jerker starts previews at London’s Waterloo East Theatre on Saturday, 26th September 2026, and QX spoke to Paul Dennison, who plays the role of JR.
You won the titles of Mr Gay England and Mr Gay Europe in 2022. What motivated you to participate in these competitions?
For me, it was never simply about winning a title. I wanted to use the opportunity to challenge stereotypes around what it means to be a gay man and to show that we can be proud, confident and visible while still being completely ourselves.
I also wanted to use my experience and my voice to give something back to the LGBTQ+ community. Winning Mr Gay England and later Mr Gay Europe gave me a much bigger platform, and with that came a responsibility to use it positively. I wanted people, particularly younger LGBTQ+ people, to see someone who was unapologetically themselves and think, “Maybe I can be that person too.”
You have built a substantial social media following, using your platform to champion LGBTQ+ visibility and reaching millions of viewers through your online content. What does meaningful LGBTQ+ representation look like to you?
To me, meaningful representation is about showing the reality of LGBTQ+ lives in all their diversity. We shouldn’t have to fit into one particular stereotype or mould to be represented.
I think it’s incredibly important that LGBTQ+ people are seen simply living their lives — falling in love, being silly, being successful, making mistakes, having families, being ambitious and just being ordinary human beings. I also think there’s power in showing positive, joyful LGBTQ+ content. Our stories don’t always have to centre around struggle or discrimination.
If something I post makes someone feel a little more comfortable being themselves, or makes a young gay person feel less alone, then I feel I’ve used my platform for something worthwhile.
You recently completed your third year performing in the revival of La Bohème at the Royal Opera House. You are now preparing to take on the role of JR in Jerker at Waterloo East. Can you share something about the show and your character?
I’ve been incredibly fortunate to spend the last three years performing in La Bohème at the Royal Opera House, so moving from one of the world’s great opera houses into an intimate two-hander like Jerker is a very exciting change of pace.
Jerker, by Robert Chesley, is a bold and intimate two-person play about two men, JR and Bert, who meet through late-night phone calls. What begins as anonymous fantasy gradually develops into something much more emotional and complicated. It’s about desire, loneliness, vulnerability and the human need for connection.
JR is a fascinating character because there’s much more going on beneath the surface than you initially realise. He’s confident and sexually open, but as the relationship develops, we see his vulnerability and his need for genuine human connection. It’s a very intimate piece, and as an actor I’m really enjoying exploring all those different layers.
What do you hope the audience will take away from the performance?
I hope they laugh, feel uncomfortable, feel moved and perhaps even see themselves somewhere in the characters. The play is set in 1985, which is also my birth year. It was an extremely tough time for the community, and I hope this resonates with everyone.
I’d love for the audience to leave thinking about the importance of being seen and heard, and of allowing ourselves to be vulnerable with another person. And, of course, I hope they have a bloody good time watching it!
What other projects do you have in the pipeline?
I’m always happiest when I’ve got several different things happening at once! I have some exciting projects coming up across acting, television and social media. I’ll be making a cheeky TV appearance in an episode of something VERY soon! But that’s all I can say.
Jerker runs from 26 September 2026 to 18 October 2026 at Waterloo East Theatre, Brad Street, London SE1 8TN, United Kingdom.
Promo Code QX20TX for £20 tickets.
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