GOLDEN BOY

About the show

I’m out for fame and fortune, not to be different or artistic! I don’t intend to be ashamed of my life! 1930s New York, at the height of the Depression. Joe Bonaparte is a gifted young violinist with extraordinary talent and a future in music, until a chance at fame and fortune lures him into the brutal world of professional boxing. Pressured by a ruthless manager, tempted by a forbidden love, and bound by the expectations of his Italian-American family, Joe is a young man torn between the seductive promise of the American Dream and the quiet honour of a decent life. He must confront what he’s willing to sacrifice, who he’s willing to become, and how to find his place in a world that demands he choose a side. Olivier Award winner Sam Yates (VANYA; Magpie) directs BAFTA winner Josh O’Connor (The Crown; Challengers) in this searing revival of Clifford Odets’ knockout American classic. Brought to life with a live string quartet, this propulsive drama explores ambition, identity, and the high price of success.