Acclaimed disability-led theatre company Birds of Paradise are back — and this time they’re diving head-first into the messy, intimate and rarely-discussed territory of sex and disability. Their new accessible production, (We indulge in) a bit of roll play, unfolds as a sharp domestic comedy that gradually cracks open into something far braver: a no-apologies look at desire, boundaries, and how disabled stories are told.
At the centre of it all is Ed Larkin — a performer who made history as the first wheelchair user to lead a West End musical (The Little Big Things) and who many will also know from Tom Fletcher’s The Creakers. Joining Birds of Paradise for this production, Larkin says he’s excited to work with a company known for pushing expectations:
“BOP always look to create work that challenges what’s expected, telling real and authentic stories with disability and the disabled experience at its heart.”
The story follows Ben, a young disabled man juggling life at home with his parents, the pressures of university, a complicated “sometimes girlfriend,” and a few secrets he’s not quite ready to name. As the walls of his bedroom begin to feel a little too small, Ben is pulled into a world of unfiltered desires — a place where he no longer needs permission just to take up space.
Behind the script is a trio of powerful voices.
Hana Pascal Keegan (Beyond Her Years, Almeida; Secret Garden, Regents Park), Gabriella Sloss (GOOD SEX AFTER BAD SEX; 787 Blinks), and Robert Softley Gale (My Left Foot – The Musical; Don’t. Make. Tea.) bring together blunt honesty, sharp humour and a willingness to probe the stories we shy away from. Together, they craft a narrative that moves from stand-up stages to kitchen tables, and from private online spaces to the wider world — all while lifting the lid on the assumptions surrounding intimacy and disabled lives.
Birds of Paradise have always been known for approaching sensitive themes with clarity and care, and this production stays true to that ethos. The creative team includes Intimacy Coordinator Vanessa Coffey, whose work spans House of the Dragon, Outlander and Vikings: Valhalla. Her involvement ensures that the physical and emotional landscape of the piece is shaped with the respect it deserves.
(We indulge in) a bit of roll play promises to be funny, honest and fearless — a production that asks us to reconsider the stories we think we already understand. If Birds of Paradise have their way, audiences will leave with their perceptions reshaped and their empathy widened.
Thursday 19th – Saturday 21st February 2026