The 20-year-old Heartstopper actor Joe Locke will soon be making his Broadway debut!
He will play Tobias Ragg in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, which will premiere on January 31. Daniel Marconi is the actor portraying this character now; Gaten Matarazzo from Stranger Things played it before.
The musical is directed by Thomas Kail and is an adaptation of Christopher Bond’s play, with music by Stephen Sondheim and a book by Hugh Wheeler.
What’s more in the news?
Locke’s next role at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre has been announced ahead of his Disney+ miniseries debut in Agatha: Darkhold Diaries. Locke’s popularity has increased as a result of his performance in the well-liked Netflix series Heartstopper.
The news was made concurrently with Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford’s farewell performances as Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett. Aaron Tveit and Sutton Foster will make their stage debuts in the musical on February 9. “He’ll send the demons howling, dearie,” read an Instagram post from the musical congratulating Locke on joining the cast. From January 31st, the delicious @joelocke03 will be performing Tobias Ragg.”
Joe Locke’s co-stars from Heartstopper congratulated him
Joe Locke’s co-stars from Heartstopper congratulated him in the post’s comments section, with Bradley Riches and Robie Donovan offering their encouragement. Riches wrote, “Boyyy, you better slay.” August: Locke discussed his rising stardom and the “weird guilt” he experiences when his loved ones are impacted by his newfound prominence in an earlier interview.
In an interview with Teen Vogue for the August cover story, he talked about feeling responsible for his actions and how they affect people who are close to him.
“It’s a mutual thing,” Locke explained. “It is important for me and other people to know when to set and uphold boundaries. The best locations draw the most attention, and I want to be appreciative of that forever.”
Beyond his current success, Locke has a few dream roles in mind. In May 2022, he revealed to The Independent that he wants to work on personal projects that mean something to him. Playing the first gay Disney prince is a “dream” role for him, he admits, but it’s still a dream.
More about Joe Locke’s career
Manx actor Joe Locke has gained recognition for his outstanding performance in the Netflix teen series Heartstopper (2022–present) as Charlie Spring, a high school student. Because of his portrayal, he was nominated for the inaugural Children’s and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Performance.
Locke is engaged in the arts and takes part in the 2020 National Theatre Connections. He has participated in several productions with the Kensington Art Center’s youth group and the Gaiety Theatre, among other venues.
It was announced in April 2021 that Locke would play Charlie Spring, the main character, in the 2022 Netflix coming-of-age series Heartstopper. The webcomic and graphic novel of the same name by Alice Oseman served as the inspiration for the television series.
Interestingly, Locke beat out 10,000 other hopeful actors to land the part through an open casting call. He plays a convincing 14–15-year-old student in an English boys’ grammar school, even though he was 17 at the time of filming.
Locke’s casting announcement in November 2022 for the WandaVision spin-off television series Agatha: Darkhold Diaries, which is scheduled to debut on Disney+, is further evidence of his burgeoning career.
Joe Locke’s Early life
Born on September 24, 2003, Joe Locke, whose real name is Joseph William Locke, spent his early years growing up in Douglas, Isle of Man.
During his high school years, he participated in a significant initiative at Ballakermeen High School. Locke, along with three other students, petitioned government representatives to look into the possibility of allowing Syrian refugees to settle on the Isle of Man.
Furthermore, he stated on ITV’s This Morning in April 2022 that he was studying for the English, history, and politics A-Levels at the same time.
