Ilford Boy

Ilford Boy is a stand-up and comedy show at the Donmar Warehouse in London, staged as a funny and moving drama about a family in 1990s East London.

The show follows Ted Martin, a mixed-race teenager growing up in 1990s East London in a household marked by noisy disorder, humour and demanding affection. The story turns when Patrick arrives and unsettles Ted's routine with his personal style, his wit and his enthusiasm for show tunes, opening a different way of living, one built around art, new possibilities and people who begin to see Ted clearly.

Directed by Tim Sheader, the Donmar's Artistic Director, the production blends comedy with drama. Its themes include the past that keeps returning, the families people choose for themselves and the Streisand references that help the characters get through hard times. The piece is staged in the theatre's own auditorium, and its tone moves between laughter and more serious reflection.

The Donmar Warehouse is a theatre at 41 Earlham Street in Seven Dials, central London, which is where this production is presented. The show suits anyone interested in new comedy-drama about youth, family and identity.