Taron Egerton explains his decision to quit the West End play Cock
The Rocketman star said leaving the show was “one of the hardest decisions” to make.
Words: Emily Maskell; pictures: Matt Crockett
Taron Egerton has spoken for the first time about his decision to drop out of the revival of the West End show Cock.
At the time, Cock producers cited Egerton’s exit due to “personal reasons” and his understudy Joel Harper-Jackson stepped into the Egerton’s role to star alongside Bridgerton’s Jonathan Bailey.
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Egerton’s departure came a month into the revival of the Mike Bartlett comedy’s run after a series of unfortunate happenings for the Rocketman star.
During the first preview, Egerton collapsed onstage mid-performance and after a brief return to the play he tested positive for Covid and pulled out for a week.
Speaking recently to the New York Times Egerton explains that his exit from the play was due to a close family member being diagnosed with cancer.
The 32-year-old said: “Toward the end of last year, a close family member was diagnosed with cancer, and I dropped out of a film to come home and be with that person.”
“I thought that, with the play, I was ready to go back to work, but I wasn’t. I had to leave, and it was sad, and absolutely one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make.”
Directed by Marianne Elliott, Cock centered on John (Bailey) falling in love with a woman (Jade Anouka) while on a break from his boyfriend (Harper-Jackson).
Cock concluded its limited 12-week run last month.
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