The Boy James

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox play | image =Boyjames.image.jpg | caption = Jethro Compton as "The Boy" | name = The Boy James | writer = Alexander Wright | characters = "The Boy"<br />"The Girl"<br />"James" | date of premiere = 2010 <br />Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Edinburgh | place = Britain | original language = English }} '''''The Boy James''''' is a play written by Alexander Wright that opened in 2010 at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and featured as part of Belt Up Theatre's 2010 Edinburgh season, The House Above.

Directed by Dominic Allen and produced by Jethro Compton, the play has since been performed in London, across the United Kingdom, and has returned to Edinburgh as part of the Belt Up Theatre 2011 season. Critical and public acclaim has led to the show being the longest running of Belt Up Theatre's repertoire, and was one of the two shows that were part of their international debut in the Adelaide Fringe Festival, in 2012 (alongside ''Outland'').

==The Play== Inspired by the life and work of J. M. Barrie, ''The Boy James'' is the story of one boy's awakening to the harsh realities of adulthood. The play invites the audience to join James as he escapes these harsh realities by traveling in his mind back to Neverland.

''The Boy James'' is presented by Belt Up Theatre, who ''The Observer'' says are "changing the future of British theatre,"<ref> {{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2011/feb/13/new-british-theatre-companies/ |title=New British Theatre Companies |date=13 February 2011 |work=The Observer }}</ref> and whom Time Out London call "fringe royalty."<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.timeout.com/london/theatre/event/221629/Macbeth/ |title=Macbeth: Review |work=Time Out London }}</ref>

==Characters== * "The Boy" * "The Girl" * "James"

==Cast==

===2010: Original Edinburgh cast=== * Jethro Compton as The Boy * Veronica Hare as The Girl * James Wilkes as James

===2011: London and Touring cast=== * Jethro Compton as The Boy * Lucy Farrett as The Girl * James Wilkes as James

===2011: Edinburgh cast=== * Jethro Compton as The Boy * Lucy Farrett as The Girl * Dan Wood as James

===2012: London and international cast=== * Jethro Compton as The Boy * Serena Manteghi as The Girl * Dominic Allen as James

===2015: Castle Theatre Company, Durham University=== * George Rexstrew as The Boy * Jenny Walser as The Girl * Hugh Train as James

==Reception== Overall the show has attracted great acclaim by both audience member and reviewer alike, which has led it to several successful runs. Stephen Fry tweeted that he had "...just been knocked out by The Boy James... Still drying my eyes."<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.celebritytweet.com/stephenfry/link/26385458967613440/ |title=Stephen Fry |publisher=CelebrityTweet.com |date=January 2011 }}</ref> and ''The Stage'' called it "Belt Up's finest performance.".<ref> {{cite news |title=Belt Up's The Boy James |work=The Stage |first=C|last=Soco |date=8 August 2011 |url=http://ed.thestage.co.uk/reviews/1206/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415102931/http://ed.thestage.co.uk/reviews/1206/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 April 2012 }}</ref> In the 2011 presentation ''The Guardian'' noted that Wright's play "reaches out for something he can't grasp,"<ref name=Guardian> {{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2011/jan/20/the-boy-james-theatre-review |title=The Boy James - review |work=The Guardian |date=20 January 2011 |first=Lyn|last=Gardner }}</ref> and, "the overall effect is of something almost, but not quite, enchanting.".<ref name=Guardian/> Its Adelaide production was incredibly favoured, spoken of highly by leading publication The Adelaide Advertiser 'its delivery is so disarming, charming and well performed that it is well worth a look'.<ref>[http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/festivals/belt-up-theatres-the-boy-james/story-fnb4ro4e-1226283685267], Cameron England.</ref> and by leading theatre critic outlet Adelaide Theatre Guide 'An unsettling, thought-provoking and imaginative work from a theatre company to keep an eye on; here's hoping they'll make the Adelaide Fringe a regular destination.' <ref>[http://www.theatreguide.com.au/current_site/reviews/reviews_detail.php?ShowID=theboyjames&ShowYear=2012], Jamie Wright.</ref>

==Notes== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Boy James}} Category:2010 plays Category:English plays Category:Biographical plays Category:Cultural depictions of J. M. Barrie