Ilford Boy

at Donmar Warehouse
London Available until Sat 28 Nov

Book Ilford Boy tickets & see a funny, moving new coming-of-age drama in London

Growing up is complicated enough. For mixed-race teenager Ted Martin, life in 90s East London comes with family chaos, tough love and a feeling that there must be something more out there. Then Patrick walks through the door and suddenly another way to live comes into view.

  • See Leo Whitfield Harris make his professional stage debut as teenager Ted Martin
  • Watch Craig Stein play Patrick, whose style, humour and love of show tunes shake up Ted's world
  • See Lindsey Coulson, Cary Crankson, Gershwyn Eustache Jnr, Aaron Gill, Charlotte Jaconelli, Jodie McNee & Ria Zmitrowicz complete the cast
  • Discover the world premiere of a new play by acclaimed actor and writer Danny Lee Wynter
  • See Donmar Warehouse Artistic Director Tim Sheader direct this funny and moving story about family, identity & finding your people

Full of chaos, laughter and big feelings, Ilford Boy is a story about the ghosts that follow us, the families we're born into, the ones we choose and, naturally, the Streisand that helps us survive.

Ilford Boy at Donmar Warehouse

  • Dates: 10th October - 28th November 2026
  • Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes including an interval
  • Age Guidance: 14+
  • Venue: Donmar Warehouse, 41 Earlham Street, Seven Dials, London WC2H 9LX

90s East London, family chaos & a whole lot of Streisand

Ted Martin is growing up mixed-race in 90s East London in a home packed with chaos, laughter and tough love. He's trying to work out who he is and where he fits when Patrick arrives and shakes the foundations of everything Ted knows.

Patrick has style, humour and a serious love of show tunes. Through him, Ted gets a glimpse of another kind of life, one filled with art, possibility and people who see him clearly. As Ted begins to understand himself, the play digs into family, identity, masculinity and the people who can change the direction of a life simply by showing up.

Written by Danny Lee Wynter and directed by Donmar Artistic Director Tim Sheader, the world premiere brings together a nine-strong cast led by Leo Whitfield Harris as Ted and Craig Stein as Patrick, alongside Lindsey Coulson, Cary Crankson, Gershwyn Eustache Jnr, Aaron Gill, Charlotte Jaconelli, Jodie McNee and Ria Zmitrowicz.

Funny without dodging the difficult stuff, Ilford Boy explores the families we're born into and the families we find for ourselves, all inside the brilliantly intimate Donmar Warehouse.

Book Ilford Boy tickets at Donmar Warehouse and step into a funny, heartfelt story of identity, belonging and finding another way to live.

Location

Donmar Warehouse

41 Earlham St,
London,
London,
WC2H 9LX
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How to find us

Donmar Warehouse is located at 41 Earlham Street, Seven Dials, London WC2H 9LX.

  • By car: Use postcode WC2H 9LX for your sat nav. Central London parking is limited, so use a nearby public car park and continue to the theatre on foot.
  • By train: Charing Cross is one of the closest National Rail stations and is within walking distance of Donmar Warehouse.
  • By Tube: Covent Garden is the closest Underground station, with Leicester Square, Tottenham Court Road and Holborn also within walking distance.
  • By bus: Numerous London bus routes serve the surrounding Covent Garden, Shaftesbury Avenue and Charing Cross Road areas.
  • By foot: Donmar Warehouse is on Earlham Street in Seven Dials, close to Covent Garden Piazza and the West End.
Facilities
  • Lift serving the foyer, Stalls and Circle.
  • Two wheelchair spaces in the Stalls at each performance.
  • Level-access seating in Stalls Row C.
  • Accessible toilet at Circle level, reached by lift.
  • Radio-frequency assistive listening system.
  • Hearing loops at front-of-house counters.
  • Guide, hearing and emotional-support assistance dogs welcome.
  • Visual Story available to help visitors familiarise themselves with the venue.
More Info
What age is Ilford Boy at Donmar Warehouse suitable for?

London Theatre Direct lists Ilford Boy at Donmar Warehouse with age guidance of 14+.

How long is Ilford Boy at Donmar Warehouse?

Ilford Boy at Donmar Warehouse runs for approximately 2 hours 30 minutes including an interval.

Who is in the cast of Ilford Boy at Donmar Warehouse?

Ilford Boy at Donmar Warehouse stars Leo Whitfield Harris as Ted, Craig Stein as Patrick, Lindsey Coulson as Eileen, Cary Crankson as Trevor, Gershwyn Eustache Jnr as Ken, Aaron Gill as Raj, Charlotte Jaconelli as Ann, Jodie McNee as Jackie and Ria Zmitrowicz as Tillie.

What is Ilford Boy at Donmar Warehouse about?

Ilford Boy at Donmar Warehouse follows teenager Ted Martin growing up in 90s East London. When Patrick arrives with his humour, style and love of show tunes, Ted begins to see new possibilities for his life and identity.

Does Ilford Boy at Donmar Warehouse have content warnings?

Yes. Ilford Boy at Donmar Warehouse contains bright flashing lights, haze, herbal cigarette smoking, strong language and themes including racism, homophobia, classism, misogyny and fatphobia. It also includes violence and blood, sexual content, domestic violence, drinking, references to baby loss and suicide, and a brief depiction of vomiting.

Is Donmar Warehouse wheelchair accessible?

Yes. Donmar Warehouse provides step-free access to the entrance and foyer, with platform-lift access to the auditorium and wheelchair spaces available in the Stalls.

Is there food and drink at Donmar Warehouse?

Food and drink options vary by visit. Donmar Warehouse is also in Seven Dials and Covent Garden, with a wide choice of restaurants, cafés and bars within walking distance.

What is the nearest Tube station to Donmar Warehouse?

Covent Garden is the closest Underground station at approximately three minutes' walk. Leicester Square is around five minutes away, while Tottenham Court Road and Holborn are around eight minutes away.

How many seats does Donmar Warehouse have?

Donmar Warehouse is an intimate theatre with approximately 250 seats arranged across the Stalls and Circle.

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