BBC Casualty star who made history in the West End coming home to Plymouth

Ed said the chance to perform on the TRP stage was something special for him

A Plymouth actor who was the first wheelchair-user to star on the West End is making a homecoming when he is part of the cast for The Creakers at Theatre Royal Plymouth at the end of this month.

Ed Larkin, from Bere Alston, made headlines through his role in the acclaimed musical The Little Big Things in London’s theatreland, but has also been in BBC TV dramas including Doctors and Casualty.

But the former Tavistock College and Plymouth Marjon University student is now performing back in the theatre which sparked his love of acting when he is part of the musical adaptation of Tom Fletcher’s children’s book. Now 26, Ed has multiple roles in The Creakers, which was a literary hit for the former McFly musician.

Ed told PlymouthLive: “I knew the book existed and I knew it had done really well, but I hadn’t read it, and I obviously knew of Tom Fletcher.

“But I had a meeting with our director and choreographer Tom Jackson Greaves and he said to me that he would be really interested in me getting involved in the project and sent me the role and the script and said ‘if you are interested then let me know’.

“So we just had a conversation and he was open about wanting me to get involved, and I am glad he has as it’s a cracking little show and an amazing cast, and amazing music.

“There are three leads who are all incredible, but it’s very much a company piece, so there are a lot of moving parts and everyone is doing a lot.

“Most of us including myself are playing three characters across the whole show. I play William, one of the younger kids, Mr Grubb, one of the adults, and I play Squelch who is one of the Creakers.”

Ed said the chance to perform on the TRP stage was something special for him.

He said: “It’s really nice to come back home and be in a theatre I know, just because I grew up here so this is my regional theatre.
“When I experienced theatre for the first time it was in this venue so it feels really lovely to be home and be performing at a theatre where I grew up – it’s super special.

“I started just when I was younger – my parents wanted to find me a hobby, something to do and get involved in, and so I did a drama club on a Friday and fell in love with it really. I carried on through school in my GCSEs and A-levels, and then trained at university at Marjon in their BA Acting degree.

“Then I got an agent and have been working on and off in the industry since 2020 in different projects, including TV and theatre.
“It’s been amazing and unexpected – especially in terms of musical theatre.

“I didn’t train in musical theatre as I didn’t see anyone like me in musical theatre, so I thought I will just train as an actor as I will get more work, but ever since then I have been doing musical theatre, so it’s been a surprise but really good.”

Ed said the multiple roles which many of the cast members are playing feels akin to ‘beautiful chaos’.

He explained: “It’s super exciting but it’s a new challenge for me because I’ve been used to having one character and having a really obvious journey through with one person. But it’s really cool to split off and have three different roles – it keeps it really interesting and very busy, so it’s good.”

He added: “I think energetically it’s an intense show – there is some amazing choreography, some amazing moments, but it’s a very busy show. It’s a kind of beautiful chaos – and a lot of fun as well.”

Having acted in The Little Big Things until March, Ed said his role shows that the theatre is slowly improving diversity and opening up to disabled actors.

He said: “I think the industry is getting better at diversity and inclusion, and there are more shows and more directors who are more open to cast diversity and disabled actors, so it’s exciting to see change.

“It’s slow change – there is still a long way to go – but it is getting better. The West End was incredible, the most life-changing experience I’ve ever had. It was very tiring, but amazing and a real honour to do that show with those people.”

The Creakers is on at TRP from Friday, October 25, until Saturday, November 2. Tickets are available at the TRP box office.

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