EastEnders star Max Bowden, WhatsOnStage Award nominee Paul Jacob French and Tori Allen-Martin will star as Rico ‘Ratzo’ Rizzo, Joe Buck and Cass respectively in the world premiere of Midnight Cowboy – A New Musical.
Joe Buck is a young man desperate to escape his dead-end past. Leaving everything behind, to seek wealth and glory in the big city, he meets a man just as lost as he is – Rico ‘Ratso’ Rizzo. The pair join forces, prepared to do whatever it takes to achieve their dreams, even if it means surrendering a part of themselves. But New York ain’t no dream – it’s a jungle and survival requires sacrifice…
This adaptation has a book by Bryony Lavery (writer of the Tony-nominated play Frozen), which breathes new life into the classic story, exploring the depths of friendship and ambition, and soundtrack by three-time Ivor Novello Award-winning composer Francis “Eg” White, who has written songs for Adele, Sam Smith, Florence + The Machine and James Morrison.
Max Bowden is best known for playing Ben Mitchell in the BBC 1 soap EastEnders. Prior to this he had a leading role in Waterloo Road.
The new musical is based on the novel by James Leo Herlihy which inspired the beloved triple Academy Award-winning 1969 film, starring Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman. Midnight Cowboy captures the gripping tension of dreaming big whilst trying to survive the grind of New York City.
Southwark Playhouse Elephant, 1 Dante Place, London, SE11 4RX from 4 April – 17 May 2025.
Booking: 020 7407 0234 / southwarkplayhouse.co.uk
