CLARKSTON review: Heartstopper’s Joe Locke has nailed this coming of age part says PATRICK MARMION

by

Clarkston

Trafalgar Theatre, London

Here we go again with Heartstopper actor Joe Locke. 

The lead actor from Netflix’s popular LGBTQ+ teen comedy is facing romantic uncertainty again, this time on stage. He’s starring in a new play by Samuel D. Hunter that premiered in London’s West End, attracting a star-studded crowd including actor Andrew Scott.

This time around, instead of a clumsy teenage boy like Charlie, Locke is dealing with Jake – an awkward young American graduate student from the East Coast who studies Post Colonial Gender Studies.

During a cross-country drive all by himself, he unexpectedly ended up working at a Costco in Clarkston, Washington – just 300 miles from where he’d planned to reach the Pacific Ocean.

Joe meets Chris, a new coworker at Costco, who is also struggling to come to terms with his sexuality, much like the character Nick from the show *Heartstopper*. Ruaridh Mollica, who plays Chris, is a promising newcomer to the stage.

Here’s the surprising part: Jake is in Clarkston because he’s determined to fulfill a lifetime wish list. He recently learned he has Huntington’s disease, a serious genetic condition, and doctors estimate he has about eight years before the disease causes significant dementia.

This week brought exciting news: doctors have finally developed a treatment for this devastating disease that gradually takes lives.

Sad though that often is, the play is not however at all depressing. 

It’s not about avoiding hardship, but finding beauty in human connection – the kind that helps you let go of disappointment and face your fears.

This explains how Locke’s character, Jake, can block out memories of his parents, who he says were surprisingly supportive when he came out at fifteen, even though they didn’t fully understand his ongoing struggles.

Locke is just as captivating on stage as he is in movies, convincingly portraying inner uncertainty. He also delivers a perfect American accent, likely perfected during his role as apprentice butcher Tobias Ragg in last year’s Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd.

Chris might be uncomfortable with talking about his sexuality and prefers to keep it private, but his more pressing issues stem from a difficult childhood marked by his mother’s struggles with meth addiction.

I’ve seen firsthand how tough things can be, unlike Jake who’s always had a more comfortable life. Now, I’m really hoping he can get the money together to take a creative writing course – it would mean so much to him, and he truly deserves a chance to pursue his passion.

Chris was really in a tough spot when his mother unexpectedly showed up, especially since he’d been hoping to avoid her.

Sophie Melville delivers a powerfully gripping performance as a character who is both deeply troubled and controlling, intensifying the emotional impact of the story.

Hunter’s story feels very typical of modern American experiences. It unfolds gradually, focusing on subtle emotions and the difficulties people face in close relationships.

However, the play avoids being overly sentimental, and director Jack Serio emphasizes honest, vulnerable performances. The staging is unique, with some audience members seated directly on the floor of a Costco warehouse, creating an intimate and exposed atmosphere for the actors.

Now that Locke has convincingly portrayed a young person growing up, it might be a good time to see how well his skills translate to more traditional roles.

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2025-09-26 04:03