First published in 2020 by Oberon Books Ltd
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Copyright Alexis Gregory, 2020
Alexis Gregory is hereby identified as author of this play in accordance with Section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
The author has asserted his moral rights.
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PB ISBN: 9781786828750
E ISBN: 9781786828743
Cover image: Matt Spike
Printed and bound in the UK
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10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
For Robert and Jonny; my partners in/crime.
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Introduction
In creating Sex/Crime , I wanted to create a queer thriller, a queering of the genre, if you like, and explore the concept of gay serial killers.
Have you noticed how we never say heterosexual serial killers?
I also wanted to explore the fascination that many have with such serious repeat offenders, and the consequence of such a fascination twisting and turning in on itself and taking on an equally disturbing and sinister life of its own.
And so, rather than create a whodunnit, I wanted to subvert the concept by creating a narrative about two men who, within the confines of sexual role-play, come together to recreate the killings of a famous gay serial killer. Of course, this taps into notions of internalised homophobia and, within a wider context, touches on the normalisation of obsessive-compulsive desire and questions where the limit and responsibility of such activities lie and who, if anyone, is responsible for policing such desires; those of ones own and those of others.
Set in a fractured, divisive, brutal society with an ever-slipping moral code, the world that Sex/Crime inhabits is one of no boundaries, with one line being crossed after another.
Oh, and Sex/Crime is a comedy too.
Described as a dark comic thriller, I also wanted to make a statement on the transactional nature of consumerism. The murders are purchased; a commodified experience, as is the way the characters trade and explore aspects of violence, masculinity, otherness, queerness, intimacy, language, drugs, money, power, status, desire, fear of the unknown and societal division.
Sex/Crime is also, I believe, a high-camp cautionary tale. Yes, I called it camp. After all there is, for a start, a Liza Minnelli track, written and produced by the Pet Shop Boys, in the pre-show music. Yes, that is Miss Minnellis overtly dramatic tones imploring her lover to not drop bombsbaby.
I wrote Sex/Crime especially for The Glory, an alternative queer venue in the East End with a reputation for live performance, drag and cabaret. It is one of my favourite venues in London. There had been two plays performed downstairs at The Glory previously, but still it was not a conventional theatre space, which I loved. I felt lucky to be offered a space to create a brand new play by Jonny Woo, one of the venues owners and a legendary alternative drag performer in his own right.
I pitched a couple of ideas to Jonny and the one that really jumped out at him was the one about gay serial killers. Although the idea wasnt yet fully formed I dont think I had reached the point of deciding the piece was about the recreations of the murders Jonny was brave enough to not only offer me a space but to offer to direct my script; a script that didnt exist at that point.
