Cruise

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Jack Holden‘s Olivier award-nominated play CRUISE returns to London’s West End Apollo Theatre.

1988. Soho. His last night on earth.

Having had it’s West End debut in May 2021 to glowing reviews, the intoxicating, vibrant CRUISE is the true story of what should have been Michael Spencer’s last night on earth. Following the phenomenal success of Channel4’s It’s a Sin, CRUISE is a celebration of life, queer culture and survival.

Written and performed by Jack Holden (War Horse, West End; Ink, Almeida Theatre) CRUISE is “an emotional rollercoaster without ever once losing its hold on your attention” (Evening Standard), featuring a “pulse-quickening, period-pastiche electro soundtrack” (The Telegraph) performed live by John Patrick Elliott.

A celebration of queer culture; a kaleidoscopic musical and spoken word tribute to the veterans of the AIDs crisis; an urgent piece of theatre, with an irresistible 80s soundtrack, which will make you laugh, make you cry, and which inspires us all to live every day as if it’s our last.

Director Bronagh Lagan said “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.”

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What is Cruise about?

Cruise is the true story of what should have been Michael Spencer’s last night on Earth. When he’s diagnosed with HIV in 1984, Michael is told he’ll have four years to live – at most. So, with the clock ticking, he and his partner Dave decide to sell their house, flog the car, and spend everything they have to party like it’s the last days of Rome. When Dave dies two years later, Michael doubles down on his hedonistic ways, spending what little he has on drink and drugs.

On the last night of his four year countdown – the 29th February, 1988 – Michael decides to go out with a bang. He puts on his favourite jacket, heads for Soho, and embarks on a long night of farewells. He says his goodbyes, dances, sings, and says yes to everything and everyone. Then, with all his affairs taken care of, Michael promptly… survives. Michael got lucky. He’s been given the gift of life; but what kind of life can he now live?

Ticket Information

N/A

Running Time

1 hour 40 minutes, no interval.

Cast & Creatives 

Jack Holden (Writer & Performer), John Patrick Elliott (Composer, Performer, Sound Designer)

Bronagh Lagan (Director), Nick Corrall (Set & Costume Designer), Prema Mehta (Lighting Designer)

For group bookings of 10 or more:
Submit a request online

Or call 020 7206 1176

Venue Information

Apollo Theatre

Shaftesbury Ave, Soho, London W1D 7EZ

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Nearest Tube/Rail Station

Piccadilly Circus

Buses

1, 14, 19, 22, 24, 29, 38, 55, 176

Nearest Car Parks

Cambridge Circus, Newport Place, Wardour Street and Denman Street

Reviews

Evening Standard

'Cruise is not just a play, it is a slice of history'

Broadway World

'Simply electric… immense and influential'

All That Dazzles

'One of the single best performances in all my years of theatre-going.'

The Reviews Hub

'An extraordinary experience in storytelling.'

Evening Standard

'Cruise is an emotional rollercoaster without ever losing its hold on your attention'

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