Nicholas Hoult, star of Skins and About A Boy, will appear in his first West End production in 2009. New Boy, which also stars Mel Giedroyc and Ciara Janson, opens at the Trafalgar Studio 2 in March.
A hit at the 2000 Edinburgh Festival, since which it has toured the UK and been staged off-Broadway, New Boy revisits the idea of a schoolboy crush.
Mark starts the sixth form knowing that this is his last chance to impress; to be more popular, more obnoxious, the best informed about gynaecology. The mesmerisingly 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.
Child star Hoult first made his mark appearing alongside Hugh Grant in the film adaptation of Nick Hornby’s About A Boy. His other films include Kidulthood and Coming Down The Mountain, but it is for hit teen drama Skins, which he has now left after two successful series, that he is now best known. He is the second Skins star in two years to make their West End debut at the Trafalgar Studios following Aimee-Ffion Edwards who starred in SH*T-M*X in September.
Comedian Giedroyc returns to the West End after recently starring in Eurovision musical Eurobeat. Best known for her work with Sue Perkins, which includes presenting shows such a Light Lunch, Giedroyc also appeared as Fairy Liquid in the Barbican’s 2007 pantomime Jack And The Beanstalk.
Janson, daughter of actors Debbie Arnold and David Janson, is best known for her time in C4 soap Hollyoaks, in which she played Nicole Owen. The cast is completed by Gregg Lowe and Phil Matthews.
New Boy, which is adapted and directed by Russell Labey, opens on 19 March, following previews from 17 March, and runs until 11 April. It follows Christmas show Potted Potter, a 70 minute ride through all of the Harry Potter series, which runs from 2 December until 3 January.
MA