Nice Things: A Queer Love Story — A Tender, Turbulent New Play Examining Identity, Love and the Cost of Change
A new queer theatre production is preparing to make its debut this spring, bringing with it a sharp, intimate look at identity, partnership and the messy, beautiful business of loving someone as they evolve. Nice Things: A Queer Love Story, the latest work from Welsh writer and director Luke Hereford, premieres at London’s Pleasance Theatre this April before heading to Bristol and Cardiff for a short but significant tour.
Co‑produced with Porter’s Theatre — Cardiff’s increasingly vital hub for fringe performance — this world‑premiere production promises a heartfelt, humorous and emotionally charged exploration of what happens when a seemingly perfect relationship is forced to confront the truth of who its partners really are.
A Two‑Hander with Heat, Humour and Heart
At the centre of Nice Things are performers Geraint Rhys Edwards (he/him) and Reece Connolly (they/he), who take on the roles of a long‑term gay couple living what appears to be an enviably curated life. They have the flat, the holidays, the Instagram aesthetic — the “nice things” that signal stability and success.
But when one partner comes out as nonbinary, the couple’s carefully maintained world begins to shift. What follows is not a story of external conflict, but of the internal reckonings that arise when the person you love changes — or perhaps, finally becomes themselves.
Hereford’s script asks difficult, resonant questions: What does unconditional love look like when the conditions change? Is identity a disruption, or a deepening? And why do we cling so tightly to the versions of people that feel comfortable for us?
The play’s emotional intensity is matched by its humour; Hereford’s writing is known for its warmth and wit, and early development sharings have already hinted at a production that balances tenderness with bite.
A Creative Team Rooted in Bold, Contemporary Storytelling
The production brings together a formidable creative team, each with a track record of innovative, socially engaged work.
Director Izzy Rabey (they/she) — known for their dynamic, emotionally intelligent direction in productions such as Feral Monster for National Theatre Wales — leads the staging.
Designer Cara Evans (they/she), whose work on Sleepova at the Bush Theatre drew acclaim for its textured, lived‑in aesthetic, shapes the visual world of the play.
Lighting Designer Marty Langthorne (he/him) and Sound Designer Barbara Dudek (they/she) craft the sensory landscape, while Intimacy Coordinator Emma Weissensteiner (she/her) ensures the production’s physical storytelling is handled with care and nuance.
Assistant Director Eugenia Taylor (they/them) completes the team, supporting the development of this new work.
It’s a line‑up that signals ambition: a contemporary queer story told with craft, clarity and a refusal to shy away from complexity.
A Story for Now — and for the Future of Queer Theatre
At a time when conversations around gender identity are both increasingly visible and increasingly politicised, Nice Things offers something rare: a deeply personal, character‑driven narrative that foregrounds love, vulnerability and the everyday negotiations of partnership.
Rather than centring conflict with the outside world, the play turns inward, exploring how identity shifts ripple through the most intimate spaces — the home, the relationship, the self. It’s a story that resonates across queer communities, but also speaks universally to anyone who has ever loved someone through change.
The production also marks another step in the growing presence of nonbinary narratives on UK stages, contributing to a broader movement towards representation that is nuanced, authentic and artist‑led.
Tour Dates
Pleasance Theatre, London 1–5 April 2026 — 7:15pm (3pm Saturday)
The Wardrobe Theatre, Bristol 13–14 April 2026 — 7pm
Porter’s Theatre, Cardiff 22–25 April 2026 — 7pm
Tickets are available now via the venues’ websites.
Content Notes
The production contains strong language, sexual content, and potentially triggering references to homophobia and transphobia. Recommended age: 16+.
