Ahead of his return to Southwark Playhouse, multi-award winning actor Stuart Thompson sat down to discuss the world premiere of Theo Jamieson's new musical: Flyby. Stuart delves into the psychological complexities of his character, Daniel—an engineer and astronaut discovering himself in a cosmic world. He shares with us his initial reactions to the wondrous material as he returns to the world of musical theatre following on from his award-winning performance in Spring Awakening at the Almeida Theatre. We hear him talk about the different demands and expectations of doing a musical compared to doing a play as he prepares to take the stage opposite the likes of veteran actress Gina Beck and Poppy Gilbert.

In this very special interview, Stuart Thompson opens up about his rapid ascent in the industry, from his stage debut in A Taste of Honey to winning the Jack Tinker Award for "Most Promising Newcomer" at the Critics Circle Theatre Awards. Stuart offers an introspective look at his conscious choices to play tragic figures, reflecting on his visceral performance as Osvald in the candlelit Ghosts at Sam Wannamaker Playhouse and his portrayal of Edmund in the affecting drama Romans. We hear him talk about the reaffirming nature of these roles which have helped further shape his worldview and deepen his capacity for empathy as both a human and as an actor. We reflect on these roles together and celebrate the magic of the theatre which continues to challenge and enthral him as an actor as he looks forward to new experiences as a performer.

Flyby runs at Southwark Playhouse from 3 April - 16 May 2026.

Stuart Thompson: The Power of Sad Young Men