New Boy - Trafalgar Studio 2
Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
NICHOLAS Hoult – Tony in E4’s acclaimed drama Skins – will make his West End debut in William Sutcliffe’s New Boy, which runs in Trafalgar Studios 2 from March 19 (previews from March 17) to April 11, 2009.
Original adapter/director Russell Labey revisits and redirects the simple story of a school boy crush, the power and devastation of which so many young people have experienced and then filed away under ‘adolescent phase’ without perhaps confronting chemical attraction that defines friendship.
Mark starts sixth form knowing that this is his last chance to impress – to be more popular, more obnoxious and the best informed about gynaecology. The mesmerizingly good looking new boy Barry, seems to be having trouble making friends. Everyone is afraid of him. He could be the perfect ally in Mark’s mission to enhance his social status and finally get a shag.
Hoult made his screen debut starring alongside Hugh Grant in the film About A Boy but it was Skins, E4’s edgy teen television drama, that elevated him to heartthrob status. His other films include Kidulthood, The Weather Man (with Nicolas Cage), and the BAFTA-nominated Coming Down The Mountain.
The cast also includes Mel and Sue’s Mel Giedroyc, who recently starred in the West End musical Eurobeat, and Ciara Janson. Although Janson will also be making her West End debut in New Boy, she’s well known for her television role (as Nicole Owen) in Hollyoaks. Joining them will be Gregg Lowe and Phil Matthews.
Labey, who won the TMA Award for Best New Musical for Whistle Down the Wind, which he directed and adapted, was also resident director on Sunset Boulevard and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. His other credits include Discotivity and Days of Hope.
Following its success at the 2000 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, New Boy enjoyed a sell-out tour of the UK and a London season at the Pleasance Theatre, before transferring to Off Broadway and Melbourne, Australia. It was revived earlier this year at the Tabard Theatre with a different cast although Lowe did, in fact, appear as Barry.
New Boy is produced by Jason Haigh-Ellery and Stuart Piper, who together produced Lifecoach with Phill Jupitus, which was seen at Trafalgar Studios earlier this year. New Boy is designed by Jason Denvir, with lighting by Roger Frith.
Tickets: £13 and £10.
For more information call the box office on 0870 060 6632 or visit the website.