Cruise. A one-man show that takes you back to the whorey glory days of old London’s gay scene

Tour de forces don’t come much more forceful than Jack Holden’s Cruise, recently relocated to London’s glittering West End, but only until September 4 (so don’t hang around).

The War Horse actor has written and performs this story of a young Switchboard counselor who takes a call from an older gay man, launching a re-telling of the story of the London gay scene of the 80s and 90s in glorious style. The bars and clubs are named, the experiences had there detailed, the excitement brilliantly conveyed and the characters brought vividly to life by Holden, who must literally lose half a stone each performance as he whizzes and dances and climbs and pirouettes through the show.

With just one other performer – a DJ/musician kind of character who never speaks – it’s all on Holden to make the points, orchestrate the ambience and bring the story, full of joys and sorrows (well, 80s and 90s gay culture goes hand in hand with HIV and AIDS) to an audience who can’t wait to jump to their feet at the end. If it wasn’t for Old Compton Street (see above) being half a minute away, they might’ve been there all night.

Bravo, that man!

Cruise is at the Apollo until September 4
cruisetheplay.co.uk