“Afterglow” Opens In Sydney… With Nothing To Hide!
The tagline says it all: “The climax is just the beginning.”
Have you ever wondered what happens when a married couple invites a third person into their bed? S Asher Gelman answers that question in his hit production, Afterglow. The internationally acclaimed play is currently running at The Eternity Playhouse in Sydney from February 26 to March 22, 2026.
The story centres on Josh and Alex, a married couple in an open relationship, who invite a younger man named Darius into their bed for one night. What begins as a familiar arrangement quickly becomes something more complicated, as all three men wrestle with their own definitions of love, loyalty, and what commitment actually looks like when desire is still very much part of the picture.
Yes, there is nudity. It is handled with the same directness as the rest of the play: unflinching and purposeful, not gratuitous.
A cast worth watching
Julian Curtis, known for his work in Gaslight, Cock, and Dance Academy, plays Alex. Matthew Predny, who has appeared in Titanique, Avenue Q, and Kinky Boots, takes on Darius. And Matthew Mitcham, returning to the Australian stage after seven years in London, as Josh. Mitcham has previously appeared in Strangers In Between, Jock Night, and The Pool. Will Lonsdale (King Lear, Fatherland) serves as the swing.
From Off-Broadway to Darlinghurst
Afterglow has earned its reputation. The play premiered Off-Broadway in 2017, ran for 18 months, and has since been produced in Los Angeles (where it was extended multiple times) and London in 2024. Gelman, who also directs and choreographs the production, brought it to Melbourne earlier this year before the Sydney season opened. Critics and audiences there responded warmly.
At DNA, we think theatre that genuinely engages with the complexity of modern gay life is worth your attention. Afterglow is not trying to be comfortable. It asks harder questions about polyamory, trust, and what happens when the rules of a relationship collide with real feelings.
The Sydney season runs until 22 March 2026 at the Eternity Playhouse, 39 Burton Street, Darlinghurst. Tickets are available at afterglowplay.com/australia.
