Joe Locke, Sophie Melville, Ruaridh Mollica, Jack Serio and Samuel D Hunter take us on a trip to Clarkston

Recently, WhatsOnStage stopped by the rehearsal room to get the full low-down on the UK premiere of Clarkston, marking the West End debut of WhatsOnStage Award winner Joe Locke.

We sat down with the Heartstopper and Agatha All Along favourite, alongside playwright Samuel D Hunter, director Jack Serio and cast mates Ruaridh Mollica and Sophie Melville, to find out about the thought-provoking three-hander and you can watch all the highlights below:

Clarkston follows Jake, a young man travelling west in search of meaning, who crosses paths with Chris during a night shift at a Costco in a small American town. As their relationship grows, they begin to imagine a new future.

Hunter’s work includes The Whale, A Case for the Existence of God and A Bright New Boise. The West End production follows Hunter and Serio’s recent collaboration on Grangeville in New York.

The production’s creative team includes set and costume designer Milla Clarke, lighting designer Stacey Derosier, sound designer George Dennis, casting director Stuart Burt and dramaturg John Baker.

Clarkston begins previews at the Trafalgar Theatre in London’s West End tonight, ahead of an official opening on 25 September and a limited run until 22 November 2025. Tickets are on sale below.