Afterglow, presented by Midnight Theatricals, currently playing at the Darlinghurst Playhouse, arrives toward the tail end of the Sydney Mardi Gras season and feels a little like the festival’s namesake — the afterglow itself. After the highs of some of the bigger, bolder productions around town, this intimate three-hander lands more quietly, offering audiences a reflective piece about modern relationships and emotional boundaries.
Stories centred on relationships within my own community are hardly unfamiliar territory during Mardi Gras theatre season. I first saw Afterglow at London’s Southwark Playhouse back in 2019 and remember leaving somewhat underwhelmed by the script. This new production hasn’t dramatically changed my feelings about the material, though it still offers moments of sincerity and vulnerability that will resonate with some audiences.
The play centres on married couple Josh and Alex, who have chosen to have an open relationship. When Alex meets the younger Darius during a casual hookup, what initially seems like a fleeting encounter gradually grows into something far more emotionally complicated. As the three men begin to navigate shifting feelings of attraction, jealousy, insecurity, and affection, the boundaries of their arrangement are tested. The play asks questions about what commitment really means in contemporary relationships, and whether love can comfortably exist outside traditional expectations.
Writer and director S. Asher Gelman takes on both roles here, and the production sometimes feels very closely tied to the rhythms of the text. When playwrights direct their own work, there can be a tendency to protect the script rather than reshape it, and there are moments where a tighter pace or a little more variation in staging might have strengthened the storytelling. Gelman is also credited as choreographer, though the stylised movement sequences set to music feel more like transitional staging than fully realised dance. They provide atmosphere and visual punctuation, but rarely add much to the storytelling itself.
To its credit, the production certainly leans into its theatrical elements. Lighting effects punctuate many of the transitions, and the set features an on-stage shower that becomes a recurring focal point of the characters’ encounters. The show’s most talked-about element, of course, is its nudity. All three actors begin the play completely naked — an arresting visual choice that gradually shifts as the story unfolds and the characters become more emotionally guarded and physically clothed. It’s a simple but effective metaphor for the vulnerability and defensiveness that develop throughout the play.
Among the cast, Julian Curtis stands out as Alex, bringing warmth and believability to a character who sits at the centre of the emotional triangle. Curtis grounds the production whenever the script threatens to drift into repetition. Matthew Predny, as Darius — jokingly referred to as the “other woman” of the relationship — charts the most compelling emotional journey of the evening, capturing both the excitement and confusion of someone who unexpectedly finds himself caught between desire and attachment.
Olympic diver Matthew Mitcham rounds out the trio as Josh. After the show’s earlier season in Melbourne, it feels like he is still settling into the rhythms of the role. While there are moments where the performance feels a little tentative, Mitcham clearly approaches the part with commitment and sincerity, and his presence brings a certain openness to the stage.
Like the recent buzz surrounding Heated Rivalry, Afterglow will likely draw audiences partly because of its reputation for nudity and intimacy. But beyond that surface curiosity lies a quieter exploration of love, trust and emotional risk. While the script may not fully realise the depth of its themes, the production still offers an intimate and thought-provoking evening that will likely spark conversation among audiences long after the curtain call.
– The other Daniel Craig
Daniel Craig is an international performer and has established himself as a trusted theatre specialist on the Sydney Arts Scene. While he understands the technical side of theatre, Dan writes for the everyday theatregoer (unlike some of those more prominent publications). When not in the audience, he loves to travel the world and try new gins.
Afterglow runs for 90 minutes (no interval) and plays at the Eternity Playhouse through 22 March 2026. Tickets are available through Ticketsearch.
Disclosure: The Plus Ones were guests of IP Publicity.
Image credit: Cameron Grant Parenthesy
