Clarkston Tickets

A witty, heartrending original play by Samuel D Hunter, Clarkston will have you mesmerised from the first scene as you follow Jake and Chris, two lonely young men who form an unlikely connection in the Costco of a small American town. Heartbreak, redemption, and self-discovery follow in this breath-taking and fresh story that took the US by storm and now has its UK premiere.

Why should you see Clarkston?

• This will be the West End debut of Joe Locke, who previously won us over playing the endearing Charlie in Netflix's Heartstopper - like Jake, a troubled queer young man trying to find himself. We're excited to see how he tackles yet another complex role.
• Samuel D Hunter is the writer behind the Oscar-winning film, The Whale, which also tackled dark themes with sensitivity and wit. Clarkston is sure to be another tearjerker that will have people talking for years to come.
• Described as a modern frontier story, Clarkston brings an iconic American small town aesthetic mixed with powerful storytelling, sure to enrapture British audiences.

What is Clarkston about?

Jake, played by Joe Locke, fled his Connecticut town after his life was turned upside down and began travelling west in search of the ocean - and meaning. He winds up stranded in Clarkston, Washington, where he has a chance encounter with another young man named Chris while both are working the night shift at Costco. Their lives are changed by this meeting as they embark on a journey of love and self-discovery together. Can Jake and Chris save each other or is their story destined to end in heartbreak?

Clarkston was first seen as part of a double bill of plays at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater in 2018 and will now have its UK premiere. Joe Locke plays opposite Ruaridh Mollica and Sophie Melville, in this heart-rending, powerful original play written by Samuel D Hunter (The Whale, A Case for the Existence of God, A Bright New Boise). In an interview, Locke said, ‘Samuel D Hunter's writing is so deeply human and honest that I immediately connected with the play when I read it'.

If you're excited by the thought of an original story full of depth and heart, sure to tug on your heartstrings and awe you with its powerful storytelling and talented cast, make sure to catch Clarkston when it lands in the UK.