Following the announcement that David Paisley will lead the cast of Jock Night as Ben, Hive North
have unveiled the full cast set to take to the stage at Seven Dials Playhouse from 9th October.
Sam Goodchild and Levi Payne will reprise their roles from the 2019 run of Jock Night as Kam and AJ
respectively. Sam Goodchild (Far Away, Donmar Warehouse; The Convert, Above the Stag) isn’t new
to Hive North, with memorable performances in OutStageUs as well as the original run of Jock Night.
His screen credits include short film Plunge (2019), for which he won Best Actor at the Top Indie Film
Awards. Levi Payne (Jekyll & Hyde, Derby Theatre; Hench, M6 Theatre) has performed in Hull Truck
productions such as Teechers Leavers 22 and Tortoise and The Hare and his TV credits include
appearances in Sky’s Brassic and ITV’s Coronation Street.
Joining them are George Hughes, making his London stage debut as Simon, and Matthew Gent who
will be stepping into the role of Russell. Matthew Gent joins Jock Night straight from the Olivier
Award-winning company of Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club. His West End credits include Sweeney Todd
(Adelphi), Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty’s) and Les Misérables (Queen’s). George Hughes is
recent graduate from The Arden School of Theatre, who made his professional debut with Hive
North’s OutStageUs earlier this year.
Adam Zane’s Jock Night is a raw, hilarious, and provocative comedy drama about contemporary gay
life, love, and relationships. After a successful run of an hour-long version of the play in 2019, this two-act version produced in association with Seven Dials Playhouse explores the vibrant, world-famous Gay Village in Manchester, and highlights thought-provoking issues in the LGBTQ+ community through the lens of comedy and compassion.
Commenting on the full casting, Adam Zane, Artistic Director of Hive North says, “Bringing together
this incredible mix of talent for Jock Night has been a phenomenal journey. David’s depth, combined
with the sheer prowess of actors like Sam, Levi, George, and Matthew, promises to elevate the Jock Night narrative to new heights. Each of these actors not only brings their craft but also an innate
understanding of the complexities we’re portraying. I know that this ensemble will tell our story with
authenticity, humour, and heart”.
