Joe Locke to follow Heartstopper movie with West End debut

Joe Locke, best known for his role in the popular Netflix series Heartstopper, is preparing to make his debut on the West End stage this autumn. The 21-year-old actor will star in a play called Clarkston, which tells the story of two young men who form a close bond while working night shifts at a warehouse in a small town in rural America. Although Joe is currently busy filming the Heartstopper movie, he is excited to take on this new challenge in the theatre later this year. He shared that he enjoys playing characters who are complex and have both good and bad sides, and he believes his new role in Clarkston fits this perfectly.

Clarkston is written by Samuel D Hunter, who is also known for his play The Whale, which was turned into an Oscar-winning film. In Clarkston, Joe will play Jake, a young gay man from Connecticut who ends up in the small town of Clarkston, Washington, after he can no longer drive due to Huntington's disease, a serious condition that affects the brain and causes involuntary movements. Jake meets Chris, another young man who works at the warehouse and is dealing with his own struggles, including a difficult relationship with his mother, who is addicted to drugs. The play explores themes of friendship, class differences, and the challenges faced by people living in small towns. Joe says he is drawn to characters like Jake because they are not simply good or bad, but have many layers and real-life problems.

The play has received positive reviews in the United States, with critics praising its honest portrayal of friendship and the deep conversations that happen during late-night shifts. Samuel D Hunter, the playwright, said that Clarkston is mainly about friendship and the special kind of love that can exist between men without turning romantic. Joe agrees, saying that one of his favorite parts of the play is when the characters realize that their friendship is more important than romance. The new production will be directed by Jack Serio, and the roles of Chris and his mother will be played by Ruaridh Mollica and Sophie Melville. Joe is especially excited about performing in the West End because he grew up dreaming of being a theatre actor. He remembers traveling from the Isle of Man to London with his mother to see plays, and now he looks forward to bringing her to his own West End debut.

Joe Locke has already made a name for himself with his role in Heartstopper, a series about two boys who fall in love at school. He is currently filming the movie version and says it is going well, calling it a 'nice closing chapter' to the story. As he prepares for his new role in Clarkston, Joe hopes audiences will connect with the play's themes of friendship, struggle, and hope. He believes that stories like Clarkston are important because they show real people dealing with real problems, and he is proud to be part of a production that highlights the value of human connection.