Papatango’s original production transfers to the West End after a sensational UK tour which broke box office records, won rave reviews and earned nominations for seven Off-West End Awards including: Best Production, Best New Play, Most Promising Playwright, Best Director (Plays), Best Set Design, Best Sound Design and Best Performance Ensemble.

Artistic Director George Turvey reunites the company from the acclaimed debut run at Southwark Playhouse and on tour in 2019 – Josef Davies (Jonjo), Josh Finan (Cain), Andrea Hall (Grace) and Ivan Oyik (Riyad).

“He’ll look different. My little boy. When I get out. Like… to the picture I’ve got in my head. Be like meeting him all over again. Be a whole new start.”

Instead of GCSEs, Cain, Riyad and Jonjo got sentences. Locked up in a young offenders’ institution, they trade sweets, chat shit, kill time – and await fatherhood. Grace’s job is to turn these teenagers into parents, but can they grow up quickly enough to escape the system?

Winner of the 2019 Papatango New Writing Prize from 1,406 entries, Shook tenderly and honestly examines the young men society shuts away.