Little Lark of London

“It’s an hour of pure escapism, and, when it’s over, the audience can take the Tube home, perhaps seeing it in a different light!”

After five sell-out runs, Cockfosters returns to London next month at Southwark Playhouse Borough. The show, written by  Tom Woffenden (Writer, Producer and Songwriter) and Hamish Clayton (Director, Writer and Producer), follows James (Sam Rees-Baylis) and Tori (Beth Lilly) as they travel on the Piccadilly Line from Heathrow Airport all the way down to Cockfosters, seeing all of the different kinds of people who take the Tube in London. 

Recently, we had the chance to speak with Woffenden and Clayton about Cockfosters ahead of its next run at Southwark Playhouse Borough. We discussed how Cockfosters was first created on a tight deadline of six weeks, what it has been like to further develop the show for each of its runs and even what they hope audiences take away from the show as a whole. 

How did you each first get started in the world of theatre?

Hamish: Like most people in the industry, I loved acting at school and was lucky to have lots of opportunities. I took Drama through to A Level, and continued with student theatre when I studied at university. I realised I was probably more suited to writing/directing whilst I was there, and then completed an MA in Theatre Directing at Mountview, which was particularly useful in giving me some actual approaches in my directing. Since then, I’ve been freelancing as a writer/director and largely producing my own work too, on projects that have taken me around all the pub theatres in London, up to Edinburgh Fringe, Sheffield and onto larger venues such as King’s Head Theatre, Soho Theatre and Southwark Playhouse!

Tom: I’ve worked in TV and film for nearly a decade, from Hollywood to Borehamwood. It’s very much a case of “who you know” to get into the industry, so I’m really proud of myself for getting in knowing absolutely no one. I started off working on a Channel 4 cooking show, then just hopped along on BBC Radio, Big Brother and Gogglebox and then into full-time roles in-house at drama companies making dramas for places like Paramount+ and Amazon. Writing is still a hobby, but Cockfosters has become like a second job, and it’s been an incredible job to have. It’s amazing I’ve got to do it for so long!  

What inspired you to create Cockfosters?

Hamish: Tom had the initial idea, I believe when sat on the Picadilly Line from Heathrow. The timing of a Tube journey from one end to the other is pretty close to a full show length – and there’s a whole host of interesting characters you see regularly on the Tube! The show takes it a step further, as our two central characters interact with them and each other over the duration of the journey. It’s also great in showing a cross-section of our capital city – holidaymakers at Heathrow, wealthy at Knightsbridge, tourists at Leicester Square, football fans at Arsenal, etc.

We met up for a drink and watched a show at a pub theatre. After the show, we sat down and wondered if we could make something a little more entertaining, funny and something which doesn’t take itself too seriously. Tom told me about his idea, and we ended up writing most of it in a weekend together. That might explain some of the surreal madness!

Tom: I was travelling on the Piccadilly line one day, and I thought that something set on the Tube would be a really fun idea. The structure was there: start things off at one end of the Piccadilly line (Heathrow), finish at the other end (Cockfosters), and then fill in what could happen at each Tube stop in between. It felt like a play – and I’d never written one before! By complete chance, I was meeting Hamish the following week, and I’d always wanted to do something with him – I’ve been a huge fan of his since we met. 

Can you tell us a bit about the creative process for Cockfosters?

Hamish: We began with a staged reading at Drayton Arms to test the concept. The feedback we received from friends and family was overwhelmingly positive, so we decided to bite the bullet and put our own money into putting it on for three nights at Turbine. This sold out, and an extra night was added. This all led to a two-week run in Turbine, which also sold out (before the first show . . .). We then returned for three weeks (over August 2024) and sold that out, then transferred for three weeks in May 2025 at Southwark Playhouse, which also sold out! Each time we’ve made tweaks (sometimes large, sometimes small) and taken out whole sketches, songs, scenes – and introduced new ones. I think we’ve reached a version that we’re really happy with – but of course, there’s always room for improvement. The actors should take huge credit for their influence, sometimes conjuring up brilliant new moments and lines.

Tom: Without a deadline, Cockfosters would never have happened. The Drayton Arms had a last-minute slot that came up for two nights in May last year. We agreed to take it with no script, cast or plan. In just six weeks, we achieved what we set out to do, and it got off to a great start, because the concept was strong. It’s gone from strength to strength since then, but it’s nice to see the elements from our very first draft that have remained in the script over two years later!

What is it like to be taking on multiple creative roles for the show?

Hamish: Tough! We’ve always taken on multiple roles, because it was just the two of us at the start. In an ideal world, we’d have a whole team with us – something that’s slowly growing – but it’s always a tough balancing act with the budgets! We’d love for the creative roles to take up more of our time, but the reality is that the producing roles do take up most of our time. But the variety offers a huge challenge, which is a lot of fun.

Tom: Hard work!

What is it like to be returning to Cockfosters later this year?

Hamish: Each time we look to add new sketches, tweak the writing (depending on what went down well with audiences) and there’s usually a need for some re-casting of roles in the show. Each iteration has had fresh challenges, people and energy, which is vital. We’ve also had to change logo in the past (due to run-ins with TfL . . .), and we always look to improve the set each time, too. There was a huge upgrade to the set for the transfer to Southwark Playhouse, but now I think there might be some festive additions to the setup!

Tom: For our run, we’ve actually had some breathing space to write. Usually, we’ve found out about a slot at the theatre very last-minute, and we’ve been up against it trying to write alongside other jobs and commitments. It’s always been fun coming back to the script – and it’s great to see how it has come on since that first reading in May 2023. They say “writing is rewriting,” and we’ve certainly done that! Being a comedy, it’s also nice to write with someone else – you’re both pushing each other to find the best joke, and if you’re both laughing, then you’re on the right track.  

Do you have a favourite line from Cockfosters?

Hamish: “I knew your Granddad Graham! We were close! [whispers] Very close . . .”

Tom: “Well, wipe my drumsticks in oil and play croquet with my sisters.”

What do you hope audiences take away from Cockfosters?

Hamish: We just want people to have a good time. Many friends have texted me, months after seeing the show, that a scene from the show is playing out in front of them on the Tube they’re on. It’s genuinely happened a lot of times now! So we hope they have a fun hour with us, and then some of the memories of the show will live on whenever they’re in a similar situation on the Tube. A couple of reviewers have commented on the lack of message – and that would be because we really do see this as a comedy, not a play. Otherwise, it is a show about London and its quirks, so hopefully it’s a celebration of the Tube and the city!

Tom: We want the audience to leave with a smile. It’s an hour of pure escapism, and, when it’s over, the audience can take the Tube home, perhaps seeing it in a different light! It’s been an amazing thing to be a part of, and still going on – it’s just been so humbling to hear that so many have enjoyed it.  

How would you describe Cockfosters in one word?

Hamish: Bonkers.

Tom: Bat-shit.

Cockfosters runs from 4 December 2025 to 3 January 2026 at Southwark Playhouse Borough. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.