In the macho world of professional male sport, particularly the various footy codes, it’s still difficult for gay athletes to be open about their sexuality, so many choose to hide it. Combine this with a ruthless ambition to succeed, and you have the prongs on which John Donnelly spins his play The Pass.

Ben Chapple and Deng Deng in The Pass. Photograph © Becky Matthews

The Pass premiered at the Royal Court in London in 2014. Set in three hotel rooms over the course of 12 years, the play follows the career of an English footballer called Jason (Ben Chapple).

We first meet him when he is 17 in a hotel room in Bulgaria which he is sharing with another young player called Ade (Deng Deng), the son of a British-Nigerian pastor. They are both vying for a place in a professional football team but there is only room for one of them. The game the next day will spell their fate. They are both pumped up, nervous, and finding it hard to sleep.

As they cavort, wrestle and tease each other, it quickly becomes clear that Jason is playing some kind of mind game...