Josh O'Connor Stars in Rare London Revival of Clifford Odets' 1937 Boxing Drama Golden Boy

Josh O'Connor has made a return to the theatre after a decade focused on screen work, starring in a revival of Clifford Odets' 1937 play Golden Boy at the Almeida theatre in London, according to a review published by The Guardian.

The production, described by the reviewer as a "rare outing" for Odets' work, stages a drama largely unfamiliar to audiences on this side of the Atlantic despite the playwright's prominence during the Great Depression.

O'Connor plays Joe Bonaparte, a New York violinist who abandons a carefully built musical career to pursue boxing as a way to make quick money, putting his hands — essential to his craft as a musician — at risk in the ring, the review states.

According to the review, Bonaparte is pushed toward the sport by an ambitious manager named Tom, who reportedly enlists his own lover, Lorna, to help keep the boxer satisfied and focused.

The Guardian's review describes O'Connor's performance as one that "transforms seamlessly," with the character hardening after each successive bout, developing a resolve the reviewer characterizes as fitting for the desperation of the 1930s.

The review notes that Bonaparte's professional rise and emotional unraveling are witnessed by two other key figures: his anxious father, who champions music over financial gain, and a ruthless gangster who has bought a financial stake in the boxer's career.

The Guardian characterized O'Connor's stage return as "powerful," marking a notable moment for an actor best known in recent years for his screen role in Challengers.