Jonathan Bailey and Taron Egerton tease Cock in the West End
The actor have discussed the LGBTQ drama's themes as they prepare to play a couple on stage.
Words: Alastair James; pictures: Matt Crockett and Instagram/@cocktheplayldn
The cast of the West End revival of Cock share their thoughts on the ahead-of-its-time play in a new video, as they prepare for opening night in just under three weeks. (Tickets are available here).
Jonathan Bailey and Taron Egerton lead the production of Mike Bartlett’s play, which also stars Jade Anouka and Phil Daniels.
Speaking during a recent photoshoot, the cast reflects on the modern relevance of the play, which debuted in 2009.
“Wickedly funny and so clever”
Says Bridgerton‘s Jonathan Bailey: “At a time where everyone’s finding a pressure to identify themselves – for other people and for themselves for the society – what better play to duck and dive between all of that and question all sorts of different things.”
Phil Daniels adds: “I think it’s very current about what people think.”
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On what drew the cast to the production, Rocketman star Taron says the calibre of the play meant it was too good an opportunity to pass on.
“The play is just wickedly funny and so clever,” he says. “It’s very witty, very acerbic very funny, very fast-paced and it’s just full of great characters. It’s laugh-out-loud funny when you read it. I know the rest of the cast are certainly making me laugh so far and I hope to match them.”
Jonathan was also attracted by the material, but adds that getting to work with director Marianne Elliott again was “mega”. Elliott directed Jonathan in the West-End revival of Company, for which Jonathan won an Olivier Award.
Leaving a final teaser for the audience, Jonathan says the show will be “storytelling at its purest,” adding: “It feels like we’ve got our war paint on. We’re reclaiming the theatre and hopefully going to do everyone proud.”
New promo images for the show featuring the cast were released over the weekend and Monday (14 February).
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Cock sees Bailey and Egerton as a gay couple whose relationship is thrown into turmoil when one of them sleeps with a woman.
Cock originally debuted at Royal Court’s Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, with Fleabag‘s Andrew Scott and Bond‘s Ben Whishaw cast in Bailey and Egerton’s roles.
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Cock is at London’s Ambassadors Theatre Saturday 5 March-Saturday 4 June 2022. For tickets click here.
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