Josh O’Connor Led Golden Boy Revival at Almeida Theatre Announces Full Cast and Trailer

The Almeida Theatre has revealed the full cast for its upcoming revival of Clifford Odets’ Golden Boy, with Josh O’Connor set to take on the central role of Joe Bonaparte.

The production, directed by Sam Yates, will begin previews in London on September 9, ahead of an official opening on September 15. The limited season is scheduled to run until October 31.

O’Connor, currently appearing on cinema screens in Disclosure Day, leads the cast as Joe, a gifted young violinist whose promise of a life in music is threatened when he is drawn toward the fame, money and violence of the boxing world.

The newly announced ensemble includes Jason Barnett, known for Bridgerton and 3 Body Problem, Richard Fleeshman, Olivier nominated for Company, David Ganly of The Crown and Moon Knight, Patrick Martins, whose credits include Emma and Audrey or Sorrow, and Daniel Mays, BAFTA TV nominated for Line of Duty.

Also joining the production are Oliver Ryan, seen in Mr. Burton and Dune, Hayley Squires, Olivier nominated for All My Sons, Stanley Townsend of The Gentlemen and Andor, Zubin Varla, Olivier winner for Tammy Faye, and Nicholas Woodeson, whose screen credits include Skyfall and The Death of Stalin.

First staged in 1937, Golden Boy is set in Depression era New York and explores ambition, identity and the cost of success. At its centre is Joe’s struggle between artistic fulfilment and the seductive promise of a more lucrative, but destructive, future.

Yates, whose recent work includes Vanya and Magpie, will bring Odets’ American classic to the Almeida in one of the theatre’s major autumn offerings. A newly released trailer offers a first look at O’Connor in the role, teasing a tense, stylish revival built around Joe’s collision between music and the ring.

Watch the trailer below: