Following the announcement that David Paisley will lead the cast of Jock Night as Ben, Hive North have unveiled the full cast set to take to the stage at Seven Dials Playhouse this October.
Sam Goodchild and Levi Payne will reprise their roles from the 2019 run of Jock Night as Kam and AJ respectively. Sam Goodchild (Far Away, Donmar Warehouse; The Convert, Above the Stag) isn’t new to Hive North, with memorable performances in OutStageUs as well as the original run of Jock Night.
Sam’s screen credits include short film Plunge (2019), for which he won Best Actor at the Top Indie Film Awards. Levi Payne (Jekyll & Hyde, Derby Theatre; Hench, M6 Theatre) has performed in Hull Truck productions such as Teechers Leavers 22 and Tortoise and The Hare and his TV credits include appearances in Sky’s Brassic and ITV’s Coronation Street.
Joining them are George Hughes, making his London stage debut as Simon, and Matthew Gent who will be stepping into the role of Russell.
Matthew Gent joins Jock Night straight from the Olivier Award-winning company of Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club. His West End credits include Sweeney Todd (Adelphi), Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty’s) and Les Misérables (Queen’s). George Hughes is recent graduate from The Arden School of Theatre, who made his professional debut with Hive North’s OutStageUs earlier this year.
Adam Zane’s Jock Night is a raw, hilarious, and provocative comedy drama about contemporary gay life, love, and relationships. After a successful run of an hour-long version of the play in 2019, this two-act version produced in association with Seven Dials Playhouse explores the vibrant, worldfamous Gay Village in Manchester, and highlights thought-provoking issues in the LGBTQ+ community through the lens of comedy and compassion. Commenting on the full casting Adam Zane, Artistic Director of Hive North says, Bringing together this incredible mix of talent for Jock Night has been a phenomenal journey. David’s depth, combined with the sheer prowess of actors like Sam, Levi, George, and Matthew, promises to elevate the Jock Night narrative to new heights. Each of these actors not only brings their craft but also an innate understanding of the complexities we’re portraying. I know that this ensemble will tell our story with authenticity, humour, and heart.
YASS met George Hughes and this is all we talked about.
How is your experience in this production? How have you found working with the rest of the cast?
So far, it has been a fantastic experience. When they said every day is a school day, they weren’t lying! I am constantly being educated on the means of being an actor in this industry, as well as being a gay man in my own community. I feel privileged to be able to work with such strong, talented actors/ gay men who have experienced a lot more than I have at the age of twenty-one. The entirety of the cast and production team are an absolute dream.
What is the most challenging part of this play and what do you enjoy the most?
I think that the most obvious challenge is being comfortable performing in nothing but a jockstrap and harness – best believe the family are not invited to this particular show. However, getting to know the cast, being more familiar with the work and my character, it has been a seamless transition towards the final product. Having said that, the most enjoyable aspect of this process has been having fun with the material! Every day has been a huge (professional) laugh.
What shall we expect to see?
Sex, jocks and Barbara Knox – what more could you want? But in all seriousness, I hope that our audience can appreciate the educational moments of the play in the way that I have. Amongst the hilarious writing (and acting 😉 the play uncovers a modern take on the gay nightlife scene which I think needs to be heard.
You are making your London stage debut. How do you feel about this?
Well, I was over the moon to say the least. As a recent graduate, if you had told me that I would be performing in London a few months down the line I would have laughed in your face. To say that I feel grateful and privileged would be an understatement as it really is a priceless experience – and I’m the one getting paid for it! But to go from performing at my drama school in Manchester to the stages of London, it truly has been magical.
How is this role similar/different to previous ones?
Having recently played a gay character in Out Stage Us 2023, I have personally asked this question to myself when becoming Simon. That’s when I realised that Simon is unlike any other role I’ve experienced before. Of course, playing a Gay role there is obvious similarities to other characters and attributes of myself, yet his experiences in the world of ‘Jock Night’ have allowed me to shape him, as well as really pushing myself out of my comfort zone. This drastic leap into playing a fading porn star (performer) who has issues with drug addiction has been a huge eye opener into the world of chemsex and the community – something I hope our audience can also experience.
Do you have any similarities with the role you are playing?
Being a queer man training in Manchester, there was already some familiarity with what would be Simons every day life. The places and people he’s surrounded by and how they have affected his lifestyle as a performer. Fortunately, I haven’t experienced, first hand, the scale of drugs and addiction that Simon has lived through. On the other hand, I believe his moments of recovery and sobriety express who he truly is as a person. The Simon from Cheadle I hope the audience love without the baggage of Hunter. This is the side of him I have observed some similarities with; filled with hope, love and compassion for the Gay men that have helped him.
What is the most important moment in your career? What are your future plans?
Having just left drama school, scoring my London debut has definitely been the highlight. It’s allowed me to see the importance of meeting new people and networking within this huge, beautiful industry. To move from one big city to the next has been an amazing journey for a small town Stokie – something I’ve only been able to dream of throughout my training. So far, it has been incredible and has only made me more exhilarated to see what the future has in store for me. I know it is just the beginning.
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