The Mad Gay King

CHRISTOPHER ADAMS-COHEN is a playwright, dramaturg, and deviser. They write character and language-driven plays and performance texts which explore ‘the thorny intersections of desire, power, and madness … with fantastic, raw energy’ (Squirrp Reviews). Adams-Cohen’s plays subvert and expand classical themes, platform underground performance practices, and centre Queer perspectives, history, and pleasure. A Los Angeles native and London resident, they live and work between the UK, US and Germany.

Adams-Cohen's play The Mad Gay King premiered at King’s Head Theatre in London in autumn 2024, produced by An Accomplished Woman Productions and directed by Scott Le Crass. It was previously hosted for staged readings at Soho Theatre (London), Omnibus Theatre (London), and Garvanza Gardens (LA). Other plays include Hecate House at Theater Im Delphi (Berlin); SALOME at Mack Sennet Studios (LA); and The Dew Collectors, which has been developed through readings and workshops at Soho Revue Gallery (London), Navel (LA) and Soho Warehouse (LA).

As a dramaturg, Adams-Cohen supported playwright Patty Kim Hamilton through the development of her award-winning play RE: Jane Doe, which has been presented as a staged reading through Royal Shakespeare Company’s ‘37 Plays’ Folio and given productions at Theater Bielefeld (Germany) and Shauspielhaus Gratz (Austria). Adams-Cohen served as dramaturg and associate director on director Brady Schwind’s immersive reimagining of Carrie: The Musical, winner of the 2017 LA Drama Critics Choice Award.

Adams-Cohen’s background is in devising site-specific, immersive, and collaborative performance. With companies including Gob Squad and the Los Angeles Children’s Choir, Adams-Cohen has presented devised text and performance work at HAU2 (Berlin), Künstlerhaus Bethanien (Berlin), LIFT Festival (UK), Brighton Festival (UK), Chateau Marmont (LA), Carlye Packer Gallery (LA) and REDCAT (LA). While in Los Angeles, they co-created and curated legendary LA queer club night Ostbahnhof.

Adams-Cohen is currently a participant in the Soho Theatre Writer’s Lab and the London Playwright’s Workshop Development Group. They have an MA in Dramaturgy & Writing for Performance from Goldsmiths, UOL; and a BA in Theatre Directing from UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television.