Jack Holden's ‘Cruise’ to return to the West End

The Olivier-nominated play is back for a month.

A year ago, Jack Holden starred in his debut play Cruise at the Duchess Theatre. Now, the Olivier-nominated play will return to London. Cruise is at the Apollo Theatre from 13 August to 4 September.

Cruise follows Michael, a young man in 1980s London. On the last night of a four year countdown, Michael heads out for a last night of farewells, but then he survives. Jack Holden stars in his debut work, which explores a generation whose lives were impacted by HIV and AIDS in 1980s Soho.

In a four-star review of Cruise in 2021, our critic said: “ Cruise is a vigorously acted history lesson that doubles as a vital performance opportunity for the author… Cruise pulses with a hedonistic abandon of its own only to emerge out the other side.”

“We’re ecstatic that Cruise is coming to the Apollo Theatre for a limited run this summer," said Holden and John Patrick Elliot.

"Our first run reopened the West End with a bang. Audiences had been cooped up indoors for a long time, and we all needed a reason to come together, to laugh, to cry and to have a little dance – Cruise was just that. This incarnation of Cruise will be bigger, brighter, louder and prouder. We can’t wait to get back on stage, make one hell of a noise, and take our audiences back to 1980s Soho.”

Bronagh Lagan directs Cruise, and the show features original music by John Patrick Elliott, design by Nik Corrall and STUFISH Entertainment Architects, lighting design by Jai Morjaria, sound design by Max Pappenheim, and choreography by Sarah Golding.

The Upstart Crow will follow Cruise at the Apollo Theatre.

Cruise is at the Apollo Theatre.

Photo credit: Jack Holden in Cruise (Photo by Pamela Raith Photography)