Louis Emmitt‑Stern is the writer of Slippery, opening at Omnibus Theatre. The award‑winning playwright brings a tense and intimate story of reconnection to the stage.
Directed by Off-West End Award‑winner Matthew Iliffe, the production pairs Perry Williams with Olivier Award‑nominee John McCrea in a gripping two‑hander exploring identity, recovery and the lingering pull of the past.
Slippery runs from 17 March to 11 April 2026 at Omnibus Theatre. Tickets are available here.
Your new play Slippery will premiere at Omnibus Theatre this month. What can you tell us about the show?
Slippery is a play about Kyle and Jude, who were in a relationship a long time ago. Let’s just say that it didn’t end on particularly amicable terms. They haven’t spoken to each other in ten years… until Kyle gets a call to collect Jude from A&E after he’s slipped and hit his head.
The play begins once they get back to Jude’s apartment at 3 a.m. In real time, we see them both unravel as the night goes on.
Slippery reunites Jude and Kyle a decade after their breakup. What inspired you to write this story?
I began writing this play a hot minute ago, when I was in my early twenties. I was thinking a lot about someone I was sure I’d never see again but wondered what it might look like if I did. What would I say?
Deep down, I knew any well‑rehearsed one‑liners and witty platitudes would go out the window. As hard as I might try to seem aloof and confident, the ghost of my younger self would likely betray me.
Could I avoid exposing insecurities and vulnerabilities I didn’t know I still had? Maybe the harder I tried to keep the mask up, the quicker it would slip away.
That was the seed of the play: two people, both with a clear idea of what it would look like to reunite, only to be confronted with something totally different when they get there.
The play navigates themes of addiction, identity and the LGBTQ+ community. How did you prepare to approach such emotionally charged material?
Over the past five years I’ve spoken to some incredibly generous members of the queer community who have shared their experiences with substance abuse and sex addiction.
Fairly early in the process I came across James Wharton’s Something for the Weekend, an arresting non-fiction portrait of London’s chemsex scene that approaches the topic with compassion while remaining unflinching in its portrayal.
While Slippery doesn’t shy away from the difficulties of its themes, it’s ultimately hopeful. There’s real joy and levity, and we’ve been finding that in rehearsal. Dare I say it’s funny too. My favourite theatre balances light and shade, the comedy and the tragedy, and that’s been my aim here.
As this play is a two-hander between John McCrea and Perry Williams, you must be working closely with them and director Matthew Iliffe. How are you finding the collaboration in the rehearsal room?
Every rehearsal period for a new play of mine is a collaborative experience. Sitting with John and Perry, watching them crack open the play scene by scene and line by line, is just joyful.
The rehearsal room is tight knit. Matthew and I worked together on my play Snakes and Ladders at Southwark Playhouse a couple of years ago, and we’ve developed a creative shorthand and a friendship, both of which are invaluable. He’s incredibly forensic with text, and every beat is considered.
There’s also been some serious back‑and‑forth in the room on the ‘right’ way to make a carbonara too… but you’ll have to see the show to get an answer!
The show is produced in partnership with London Friend. How important is that collaboration in bringing authenticity to the story?
It’s exciting to have London Friend on board as our charity partner, not least because they approach the themes of this play every day through their work.
The incredible Antidote team, who offer drug, alcohol and chemsex support to members of the LGBTQ+ community, have been in rehearsal to talk to the actors and the creative team working on the material.
I’m most excited for the wider public to engage more closely with London Friend’s work during our post‑show talk on Tuesday 24 March. I hope it opens discussions around chemsex, particularly how it affects the queer community, and encourages people to think more deeply about the issues explored in the play.
What would you say to anyone thinking of booking to see Slippery?
Get your tickets now before your ex does!
