If you’ve ever opened Grindr “just for a look” and somehow found yourself three hours later discussing your entire life with a stranger, then Grindr: The Opera might feel less like theatre and more like an intervention...
Blending outrageous comedy with some genuinely heartfelt moments, Grindr: The Opera captures the highs, lows and sheer absurdity of one of the defining pieces of modern gay culture. As an ex-app user myself, some moments were painfully relatable- from setting up your profile and agonising over exactly which pictures to use, to the awkwardness of a first meet-up and the seemingly endless variety of people you encounter along the way. It somehow manages to find the humour in all of it without losing sight of the very real emotions underneath.
The choreography deserves particular praise. Whether we were watching semi-erotic asphyxiation or the rather more practical post-hookup health checks, I’ve never seen implied nudity worked into dance numbers quite so well. It’s bold, camp and occasionally completely bonkers- exactly as you’d expect from a show about Grindr, but every movement feels carefully considered. The audience absolutely loved it, with laughs coming from all corners of the theatre, and you could tell a few scenes were hitting particularly close to home!
Leading the charge is Christian Lunn as the personification of Grindr itself. He absolutely dominates every scene he’s in (no pun intended), bringing an incredible voice and stage presence to the role. Backed by the equally talented Oliver Cartwright and Will Loader, there’s a real sense of lust and enticement to their performances. Together, they embody the irresistible pull of the app.
Not every relationship gets a happy ending
Patrick Barrett as Devon and Kane Verrall as Tom provide the emotional anchor. Their chemistry is perfectly realised, taking us through the twists and turns of their relationship while grounding the comedic vignettes with some genuinely touching moments. Spoiler alert: I particularly appreciated the realism here. Not every relationship gets a happy ending, and their final duet together was more emotional than a musical featuring a song about rim jobs had any right to be!
Dereck Walker’s Don is a roller coaster from beginning to end. Starting out as equal parts hilarious and sympathetic as the closeted ‘family man’, Walker gradually takes us through a character we can pity and detest in equal measure. Meanwhile, Will Joel deserves huge credit for his standout debut as Jack. Sharing many of his scenes with Don, Joel gives us someone to root for while helping deliver the show’s most poignant message: for many, Grindr isn’t simply an app for carnal desires. It can be a place for queer people who once felt isolated to find acceptance, community and somewhere they finally belong.
That’s ultimately what makes Grindr: The Opera work so well. Beneath the dick jokes, outrageous choreography and glorious camp is a surprisingly sincere celebration of queer connection. So if your own Grindr account is looking rather quiet this weekend (probably because all the gays are at Folsom), there’s a lot worse ways to spend your time than checking out this fantastic performance.
Grindr: The Opera plays at the Nottingham Arts Theatre from 11 Sept to 12 Sept 2026.
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