A Must-See This Pride Month: This Bitter Earth Burns Bright with Love, Laughter, and Urgency

This Bitter Earth isn’t just a play—it’s a knockout. A bold, tender, and thought-provoking triumph that pulses with emotional heat, queer joy, and razor-sharp relevance. Now playing at Soho Theatre, this powerful new production marks the long-awaited UK directorial debut of Grammy, Emmy, and three-time Tony Award winner Billy Porter. Yes, that Billy Porter. And yes, it’s every bit as electric as you’d hope.

But the real heart of the show? The breathtaking performances by Omari Douglas (It’s a Sin, Constellations, Cabaret) and Alexander Lincoln (In From the Side, Emmerdale, Everything I Know About Love). Their chemistry is undeniable—simmering with tension, affection, and complexity. Together, they bring Jesse and Neil’s relationship to vivid, layered life: a Black playwright and his white activist boyfriend navigating the fault lines between love, race, queerness, and resistance.

Written by Harrison David Rivers, This Bitter Earth avoids every cliché. It’s a two-hander with teeth, full of warmth and wit, where deep questions about allyship and identity are met not with preaching, but with grace, humour, and intimacy. Yes, the timeline jumps around. Yes, a few moments might feel a little theatrical-for-the-sake-of-it. But none of that matters when the story cuts this deep and hits this true.

It’s funny. It’s sexy. It’s devastating. It’s important. And it proves, once again, that queer stories are anything but one-note.

And now, exclusively, we sit down with Alexander Lincoln for an intimate interview about bringing Jesse and Neil to life, working under Billy Porter’s fearless direction, and why this story matters right now.

How do you feel being part of This Bitter Earth at the Soho Theatre, what can you tell us about the show?

It’s incredible to be a part of such spectacular writing and show – I feel very honoured to be working with such a powerhouse of a creative team.

What was it about the script and the direction of Billy Porter that impressed you most? 

The script is beautiful, how it explores the themes of activism, race and politics is something that immediately drew me to it, that and the people attached of course. Billy was so there with everything for the play – he’s such a beautiful soul and it’s all so personal to him which made the show pulse even more than it does otherwise.

This is a legendary show and had been run in the US with tremendous success! How do you feel about this UK production?

It’s incredible to be doing the West End debut of this wonderful work after all its success. I have loved every minute and hope there’s more success to come.

You are both so successful and very loved in the UK. How does it feel working together?

It feels amazing – Omari is such a storm of an actor and also just a wonderful person. I have loved getting to know him and working alongside him, I hope to again!

And how is it to be directed by Billy? What have you learned from him?

I think the thing about Billy that has resonated the most is just the way that he wears everything on his sleeve; his anger, frustration, joy and love; is the most giving creative I’ve worked with in that way. 

I think what I have learned from him, or at the very least what has been the most inspirational has been how he is absolutely unapologetically himself, always. 

What part of the show have you enjoyed the most?

Honestly, all of it – it has been one of the most wonderful explorative experiences of my career thus far.

What has been the most challenging part of this show?

I think it’s the level of intensity throughout, we go from one point in time to another quickly so it’s that constant up and down of emotions which has been trying at times. But throughout the run it’s become much more easy to get into that and dip in and out.

What are the similarities and the differences you have with the roles you are playing?

I mean there’s always an eliment of yourself in the characters you play, I believe, however Neil is the most different in terms of background that I’ve ever played so that has been a fun challenge.

What would you say to the people who have bought tickets for this show?

I would first say, thank you. And second I would say that I hope that the topics discussed throughout the play narratively is something that they continue to think and discuss. This, after all, is what we want audiences to take away. To be more open to discussion, to continue to think after the play has finished.

🎭 Don’t miss it: This Bitter Earth runs at Soho Theatre until Saturday 26 July, with press night on Tuesday 24 June.