The cast line-up has been confirmed for the world premiere production of How Soon is Now?, a new indie musical written by award-winning playwright Siân Owen. Presented by Manchester-based theatre company Box of Tricks, the production opens at Lowry in Salford on October 1, 2026, running through October 3, 2026, before embarking on an extensive tour across the UK.
The storyline takes place on New Year’s Eve in 1997 inside a smoke-filled Manchester nightclub. Welsh outsider Jean, played by Bethan McLean, meets the outgoing Angie, played by Kaitlyn Akinpelumi, and the compassionate Polly, played by Laura Robinson. Actor-musician Darragh Cowley stars as DJ Spin Jim, serving as a master of ceremonies who shapes the evening's rhythm through iconic 1990s tunes. Theo Woolford plays Jean’s controlling boyfriend Carl, while LJ Willow completes the live band ensemble.
The production features a live soundtrack of classic 1990s indie anthems from acts including The Stone Roses, Radiohead, and The Smiths. Director Adam Quayle highlighted the production's multi-instrumentalist cast, promising an all-singing, all-dancing theatrical experience. Playwright Siân Owen added that she envisions the show as a love song to music, friendship, and courage, designed to feel as though audiences have stepped directly into the middle of a bustling nightclub.
Following its opening performances at Lowry, the UK tour will visit Storyhouse in Chester, The Dukes in Lancaster, Theatre Royal Wakefield, and the Loading Bay in Bradford. The tour continues through late October and November 2026 with stops at Exeter Northcott, Tobacco Factory Theatres in Bristol, ARC Stockton Arts Centre, New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich, Sheffield Playhouse, and the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough. Tickets for all scheduled dates are available on the official Box of Tricks website.
