New Boy Transfers Without Nicholas Hoult???

We hear the returns queue stretched down the block on the last night (11 April 2009) of New Boy at Trafalgar Studio 2 earlier this month. Small wonder then that the comedy, which featured Skins heartthrob Nicholas Hoult making his professional stage debut, was offered an immediate transfer to Trafalgar Studio 1, the 380-seat main house.

Unfortunately, with Hoult committed to three months of filming the new Hollywood remake of Clash of the Titans immediately after the end of his original sell-out New Boy dates, the move next door wasn’t possible. Still, a transfer is now back on the cards for late this year or early next. If Hoult can’t find time to take a break from his film career, producers aim to find another familiar young screen face who can.

The stage version of William Sutcliffe’s 1998 novel tells the story of a schoolboy crush and its devastating consequences. Mark (Hoult) starts the sixth form knowing that this is his last chance to impress – to be more popular, more obnoxious, the best informed about gynaecology. Meanwhile, good-looking new boy Barry seems to be having trouble making friends because everyone’s afraid of him. He could be the perfect ally in Mark’s mission to enhance his social status and finally get a shag…

In Trafalgar 2, Hoult was joined in the cast by Mel Giedroyc, Ciara Janson, Gregg Lowe and Phil Matthews. The piece is adapted and directed by Russell Labey, who premiered it at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2000.