Samuel D Hunter’s 2015 play Clarkston offers an intimate, yet bleak exploration of life’s struggles in a small American town, highlighting resilience and human connection through compelling performances at the Trafalgar Theatre.
Samuel D Hunter’s 2015 play Clarkston offers a bleak yet intimate exploration of life on the margins in contemporary America. Set in the eponymous nondescript town, the play delves into themes of drugs, unemployment, and a pervasive sense of purposelessness, reflecting the struggles of its characters to find meaning amid stasis and hardship. Despite its occasionally heavy-handed and expository dialogue, the production nurtures an intimate story about resilience and human connection under challenging circumstances.
At the heart of Clarkston is Jake, played by Joe Locke in his West End debut. Locke, known for his role in Heartstopper, portrays Jake as a forcefully optimistic liberal arts graduate diagnosed with Huntington’s disease. Jake’s dream of journeying westward to follow in the footsteps of his distant relative, the pioneer William Clark, is consistently thwarted by his illness and the limitations of his surroundings. Working night shifts at Costco, Jake’s determined yet naïve optimism clashes with the reality of his environment, setting the tone for the story’s emotional core.
Jake’s life intersects with Chris, portrayed by Ruaridh Mollica, whose tough exterior conceals deep vulnerability. Mollica’s performance is often singled out for its emotional honesty and nuance, capturing Chris’s struggle with his own identity and his battle against isolation. The character’s inability to communicate his romantic feelings and his limited experience of the world beyond his small town are conveyed with compelling sincerity. The dynamic between Jake and Chris unfolds with a tender authenticity that forms the emotional backbone of the play.
Adding further complexity is Sophie Melville’s portrayal of Trisha, Chris’s troubled mother, whose addiction and manipulative behaviour create additional strain and discomfort, especially around Jake’s well-meaning but misplaced efforts to help. Melville delivers her role with what critics describe as “immaculate control,” bringing emotional intensity to the tension within this fractured family unit.
The staging of Clarkston, designed by Milla Clarke, features a minimal and functional set dominated by warehouse props such as cardboard boxes and cheese balls, symbolising the monotonous and confining world the characters inhabit. Some aspects of the staging, including the use of on-stage seating for some audience members, have been noted as distractions that add little to the dramatic tension and instead create practical concerns. However, the production’s lighting and atmospheric design, including an ominous underscore, effectively enhance the intimate and somber tone of the play.
While some critics have pointed out the script’s occasional over-explanation and lack of subtlety, the overall production, directed by Jack Serio, has been praised for its emotional depth and the palpable chemistry between the leads. The play’s tenderness comes through in moments of shared vulnerability, small gestures of kindness, and the quiet companionship the characters offer each other in their darkest moments. It’s a portrayal of finding purpose not in grand achievements but in simple human presence and acceptance.
Clarkston runs until 22 November 2025 at the Trafalgar Theatre, offering audiences a quietly devastating meditation on friendship, mortality, and the search for meaning in a seemingly stagnant world. The performances, particularly by Mollica and Locke, are widely regarded as highlights, with some reviewers calling Mollica’s work among the best currently available in the West End.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is fresh, with the earliest known publication date being 19 September 2025, when production photos were released. ([londontheatredirect.com](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/news/clarkston-first-look-production-photos?utm_source=openai)) The play opened on 17 September 2025 and runs until 22 November 2025 at the Trafalgar Theatre. ([trafalgartheatre.com](https://trafalgartheatre.com/shows/clarkston/?utm_source=openai)) The Guardian’s review was published on 25 September 2025. No evidence of recycled or republished content was found. The narrative is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were identified. No similar content appeared more than 7 days earlier. The article includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The review includes direct quotes from the play, such as Jake’s line: ‘You have this idea in your head of the person you could be.’ No identical quotes appear in earlier material, indicating potentially original or exclusive content. No variations in quote wording were noted.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from The Guardian, a reputable organisation, which strengthens its reliability. The Trafalgar Theatre’s official website provides additional information about the play and its cast. ([trafalgartheatre.com](https://trafalgartheatre.com/shows/clarkston/?utm_source=openai)) No unverifiable entities or fabricated information were identified.
Plausability check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative’s claims are plausible and consistent with other reputable outlets. The play’s themes of isolation and self-discovery are well-supported by the content. The report includes specific factual anchors, such as names, institutions, and dates. The language and tone are consistent with the region and topic. No excessive or off-topic detail unrelated to the claim was noted. The tone is appropriately dramatic and resembles typical theatre reviews.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative passes all checks with high scores, indicating it is fresh, original, and from a reliable source. No significant issues were identified, and the content is consistent with other reputable outlets.
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