Joe Locke, best known for his breakout role as Charlie Spring in Netflix’s Heartstopper, is set to make his West End debut this autumn in Clarkston—a poignant play about two men forming a deep connection while working in a warehouse in rural America.
The 21-year-old actor is currently filming the final instalment of Heartstopper, which concludes the heartfelt queer love story between teens Charlie and Nick Nelson, played by Kit Connor. Once filming wraps, Locke will shift focus to Clarkston. Though the exact venue and run dates have yet to be confirmed, the production is slated for a West End premiere later in the year.
Locke takes on the role of Jake, a young man battling Huntington’s disease—a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement, behaviour, and personality. Jake embarks on a journey across America to rediscover himself and confront his condition.
On his travels, Jake meets Chris, a fellow warehouse worker with a troubled family past. Chris will be played by rising star Ruaridh Mollica, known for his performance in the 2024 queer sex work drama Sebastian, which earned him a British Independent Film Award nomination.
Joining them on stage is Queer The Way actress Sophie Melville, completing the central trio in this emotionally layered story.
A synopsis for Clarkston describes the play as “a modern frontier story that blazes a trail through friendship, acceptance, love, and the hope of new discoveries.” It follows Jake and Chris as their bond grows amidst the night shifts at a Costco in a remote town, hinting at the potential of something greater—akin to the spirit of explorers Lewis and Clark.
The play is written by acclaimed playwright Samuel D. Hunter, best known for his 2012 work The Whale. That story was adapted into a 2022 film starring Brendan Fraser, who won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 2023 for his portrayal of Charlie, a reclusive gay English teacher.
Locke expressed his excitement for the upcoming role:
“I’m thrilled to be making my West End debut in Clarkston. Samuel D. Hunter’s writing is so deeply human and honest that I immediately connected with the play when I read it. I can’t wait to bring this beautiful story to life and share it with audiences in London.”
Speaking to the BBC, Locke also shared his appreciation for complex roles:
“I really enjoy characters that have something to them, a bit of bite, a bit of a grey area. Everyone is flawed in some ways. And I’ve been lucky enough in my career so far to play a few flawed characters, and Jake is no different to that. And that’s the fun bit, the meaty bit, getting to know these characters – they’re good and they’re bad.”
While Clarkston marks his first appearance on the West End, Locke made his major stage debut on Broadway in 2024, portraying Tobias Ragg in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
More recently, he stepped into the Marvel universe, playing gay teen superhero Wiccan in the Disney+ series Agatha All Along
