Punk play touches down in Jersey before West End transfer

Friday 10 June 2016

Having impressed audiences and critics across the UK, former Jersey resident Leon Fleming is bringing his new one-man play ‘Sid’ back to the place it all began before it heads to London’s West End.

The 50-minute play, which was written and debuted in Jersey, is back in the Opera House studio tonight and tomorrow night.

So far on its UK tour to the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff and the Etcetera Theatre in London, the play has earned several five star reviews, paving the way for its transfer to the Arts Theatre (upstairs) in the West End this September. 

Directed by Scott Le Crass and performed by Dario Coates, the play brings together punk rock and hero worship as the protagonist struggles to reconcile the anarchy of his beloved idol Sid Vicious with the restricting rules of his everyday life. 

Fleming, who has recently moved to the UK to pursue his writing, says: “Working on Sid with Scott and Dario has been a phenomenal experience; we've become a really close-knit team.”

Fleming is a co-creator of the local new-writing scheme Plays Rough, through which the original version of ‘Sid’ was performed and developed. He is also a winner of the Channel Islands Radio Drama Competition and three-time winner of the Jersey Arts Trust New Plays Project.

“I'm so excited that we're getting a chance to bring Sid back to the place where it all began; I think being in the Opera House studio again will feel like coming home."

On the news of the West End transfer, Fleming is “still pinching” himself and “can't quite believe that it's true."

‘Sid’ has been described as “gripping and provocative” and “breath-taking” by UK critics and now Jersey audiences have a chance to witness this success-story for themselves in the Opera House studio this Friday and Saturday at 8pm.

Tickets are £10 (£8 concessions) and are available from the Jersey Opera House Box Office online here or you can give them a call on 01534 511115.