The first production photos are out for Ilford Boy, Danny Lee Wynter’s new play about growing up in 1990s East London, ahead of its press night at the Donmar Warehouse on Tuesday 20 October.
Helen Murray’s pictures show the company of Ilford Boy on stage at the Donmar Warehouse, where Danny Lee Wynter’s play is now in previews as a world premiere. Tim Sheader, the Donmar’s artistic director, directs it. Press night is Tuesday 20 October, and it is a limited run.
The play is set in East London in the 1990s. Leo Whitfield-Harris, making his professional stage debut, plays Ted Martin, a mixed-race teenager in a loud, loving and frequently chaotic family home. Then Patrick arrives. Played by Craig Stein, he brings his own sense of style, a quick wit and a love of show tunes, and Ted starts to see that another kind of life is possible. Barbra Streisand is part of what keeps him going. The show’s own line sums up the mood: “The boy lives in Ilford, of course he’s depressed.”
Around them are 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. McNee plays a role first announced for Sinead Matthews when the Donmar set out its season in July.
Peter McKintosh designs the set, which stacks the family house on two levels framed in strips of light, and one of the photos shows it flooded in neon pink. Costumes are by Ryan Dawson Laight, lighting by Aideen Malone and sound by Tony Gayle. Eamonn O’Dwyer composes the music, and Ebony Molina is movement and intimacy director.
The play runs 2 hours 35 minutes, including an interval. Evening performances are Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm, with Thursday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm. Tickets range from £15 standing to £70, and there is a £20 band for those aged 35 and under. The captioned performance is on Monday 16 November 2026 at 7.30pm, and the audio-described one on Saturday 21 November 2026 at 2.30pm.
Ilford Boy runs at the Donmar Warehouse, 41 Earlham Street, Seven Dials, until Saturday 28 November 2026.
For more information, visit the official website.
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