Hooked

Principals (2m, 2f)

• Ben

On the outside, Ben is a charmer and a chancer, he is popular and talented. But on the inside he’s falling apart. The trouble is that he doesn’t know what he wants. Ben lives two lives, one that is comfortable, suburban and dull, and one that is exciting and fun but also dangerous and addictive. He’s gradually being torn apart and something’s got to give. The two different worlds he inhabits can no longer be kept apart and are about to collide with disastrous consequences. Will Ben survive, or is he destined to keep on making the same mistakes again and again?

• Emma

In the upper middle class, middle-England world from which Emma comes, someone like Ben is considered an oddity. But it’s the fact that he’s an unpredictable maverick that appeals to her. So much more interesting than those lawyers and City types. But as much as she enjoys Ben’s unconventional job and quirky outlook on life, she also craves the safety and comfort of a rock solid family life. And up until recently, Ben was shaping up pretty well in that department. But now something’s changed...

• Monique

Innocent, hungry for adventure, and full of dreams of becoming a professional singer, Monique is also desperate to escape the misery of her childhood back home in Romania. Moving to London is a fresh start for her. She would rather she wasn’t working at The Ruby Lounge – but it’s not as if it’s permanent and it is show business – of sorts. She will save her money, bide her time, and grab all the opportunities that come her way. London is the place where dreams come true – isn’t it?

• Parnell

As manager of The Ruby Lounge, Parnell sees two types of punters come through the doors: the ones who are passing through, just flirting with danger; and then there are the others, the regulars, the ones who are sucked in and can’t help themselves. These are the ones who pay the bills, keep him in good suits, maintain his lifestyle. Parnell cultivates them, grooms them, keeps them happy – just as he does with his girls. It doesn’t mean that he likes them; he’s just taking care of business. And sometimes people get hurt. It’s nothing personal – it’s just the law of the jungle.

Support(2f)

• Odette

Odette is one of life’s survivors. Having grown up on the mean streets of South London, there’s very little that will shock her, even working at The Ruby Lounge. She watches the other girls come over from eastern Europe and she can see that most of them are like lambs to the slaughter. She tries to watch out for them. She does what she can to keep them from harm; tries to help them toughen up. But there’s only so much that you can do. It’s a brutal world out there.

• Angel

When you’ve been thrown out and cut off by your rich parents for your total lack of repentance for a string of petty offences, you do what you can to get by. Life is ever thus for Angel. But it turns out that she’s pretty good at what she does. She’s found her slot. There are rich pickings to be made from the punters who slather and drool over her. Late at night, full of booze and drugs and dizzy with lust, they’re not exactly careful with their cash and personal belongings.

'Hooked' was very well received by press and public alike when it premiered at the George 4 venue at the Edinburgh Fringe and subsequently
when it transferred to the Theatre 503 in Battersea.

The reviews from national media such as Capital Gold, The Times and the Mail On Sunday, as well as the fringe reviewers, stand testament to the both the strength and sensitivity of 'Hooked' and its creators.

“Bears all the hallmarks of the most stylishly exciting musical since Cabaret.See it or live to regret it!” - Samantha Hughes, Capital Gold

“A modern day morality tale about a city slicker’s decline and fall,replete with dancing girls, cocaine comedowns, a very evil gangsterand some extremely catchy pop songs, including one set in a rehab clinic.What’s not to like?” - The Times

“Every once in a blue moon there pops up an innovative musical that grabs you by the (metaphorical) balls... Hooked is one of those.”

“With a gritty plot and glitzy songs from the team of Nick Hale, Matthew James and Max Kinnings, Hooked works because it tackles serious issues without losing the intimate quirks of these very human protagonists.”

“...the theatrical phenomenon that other productions can only dream of.” - Nick Awde,The Stage

“... a rewarding walk on the wild side” - Mark Wareham, Mail on Sunday