"It was a star-studded occasion at the Clarkston press night on Thursday (25 September). As well as the likes of Andrew Scott and Tom Blyth, many seats in the stalls were occupied by the cast of Heartstopper, out in force in a touching display of support for one of their own, Joe Locke, making his West End debut. The play revolves around two men, Jake (Locke) and Chris ( Sebastian 's Ruaridh Mollica), in the real-life town of Clarkston, Washington."
"Jake has just appeared in town and is following in the footsteps of his ancestor, William Clark of the famed explorers, Lewis and Clark; a legacy he struggles to live up to. He's joined Chris in stacking shelves at the local Costco with everything from Red Vines to large electrical goods. Things start off friendly with the potential for something more before the relationship starts to fray as the two men get to know one another."
"Mollica is the obvious stand out. As Chris he is a live wire. You're never quite sure when it's going to go off and light up the stage and when it does it's brilliant. Mollica brings nuance and range to his portrayal of a young man struggling for a way out and to find someone he can trust. Chris fees like the most realised character of the three and Mollica is someone you're constantly watching in every scene to see what's next."
Clarkston follows Jake, a newcomer tracing his ancestor William Clark's legacy, and Chris, a local shelf-stacker at Costco. Jake and Chris begin with friendly camaraderie that hints at romance, but their relationship deteriorates as differences emerge. Chris' mother, Trisha, seeks to rebuild her life and reconnect after addiction. Ruaridh Mollica plays Chris with volatile energy and layered nuance, making him the most compelling character. Joe Locke plays Jake with confidence but displays a contained stage presence that feels small for theatre, possibly due to pre-opening nerves. The production balances interpersonal intensity with themes of legacy, trust, and recovery.
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