Candy

THEATRE

2023 – 2026complete

Blending physical theatre with stark realism, CANDY on stage is a raw and unflinching portrait of passion, obsession, and self-destruction. As love and dependency become dangerously entwined, they promise again and again to get clean and start their real life.

Created by Kate Elliott & Antje Mangeant

About

Based on Luke Davies’ acclaimed semi-autobiographical novel, CANDY first brought to international attention in the 2006 film adaptation starring Heath Ledger and Abbie Cornish.

CANDY, set in Sydney in the 1980s, follows the intense story of young lovers Candy and Dan, who want to share everything, tragically leading to a devastating spiral into addiction.

In 2024 Kate Elliott was granted rights to adapt the novel to create the theatre production which premiered in London at the Old Red Lion Theatre on the 27th August 2024.

Praised by legendary actor and playwright Gawn Grainger as “exhilarating, evocative and utterly unmissable theatre.”

The theatre production then went on to be shown at London’s White Bear Theatre, starring Ed McVey from Netflix’s The Crown, as Dan. It received a five-star review from VoiceMag.uk, claiming it is independent theatre revolutionised, and that “every one must simply see, no matter who you are.”

Additionally, the production was nominated for an OffWestEnd Award (Offies), and travelled to Scotland in August of 2025, to perform a week run at Edinburgh Fringe.

Productions

2024
Old Red Lion Theatre, London
Old Red Lion Theatre, London
27–31 Aug 2024
Cast
Kyle Malan as Dan
Freya James as Candy
Conor Craig-Stephens as Candy's Father & Other Characters
Bridget Benstead as Candy's Mother & Other Characters
Crew
Adapting writer & director
Kate Elliott
Producer
Antje Mangeant
Producer
Minjeong Kim
Set designer & wardrobe
Satvinder Bahra
Lighting & sound
Cam Pike
Reviews
“When it comes to gritty, realistic addiction narratives, the bar has been set incredibly high by cult classics like Trainspotting and Requiem for a Dream. In this context, Kate Elliott's stage adaptation of Luke Davies' novel Candy at the Old Red Lion Theatre manages to carve out its own niche with a raw, intimate portrayal of love corroded by heroin use.”
— Andrei-Alexandru Mihail, Everything Theatre
“Elliott's adaptation has a filmic quality from the start, using sudden cuts, music and montage sequences to visually summarise days or weeks of action and is used particularly effectively to show the series of heroin peaks the pair experiences as well as the slog of homemade attempts at rehabilitation.”
— The Reviews Hub, The Reviews Hub
“Director Kate Elliott has a light touch with heavy material, alternately using music and movement to depict the lovers' journey through the highways and byways of hell.”
— Jad Adams, Plays To See
“When it comes to gritty, realistic addiction narratives, the bar has been set incredibly high by cult classics like Trainspotting and Requiem for a Dream. In this context, Kate Elliott's stage adaptation of Luke Davies' novel Candy at the Old Red Lion Theatre manages to carve out its own niche with a raw, intimate portrayal of love corroded by heroin use.”
— Andrei-Alexandru Mihail, Everything Theatre
“Elliott's adaptation has a filmic quality from the start, using sudden cuts, music and montage sequences to visually summarise days or weeks of action and is used particularly effectively to show the series of heroin peaks the pair experiences as well as the slog of homemade attempts at rehabilitation.”
— The Reviews Hub, The Reviews Hub
“Director Kate Elliott has a light touch with heavy material, alternately using music and movement to depict the lovers' journey through the highways and byways of hell.”
— Jad Adams, Plays To See
2025Nominated — OffWestEnd OFFIES
White Bear Theatre, London
White Bear Theatre, London
3–14 Jun 2025
Cast
Freya James as Candy
Ed McVey as Dan
Levi Kenway as Dan (understudy)
Crew
Adapting writer & director
Kate Elliott
Co-movement director
Alex McCauley
Co-movement director
Laure Bachelot
Intimacy coordinator
Hlamalani Georgina
Reviews
“Despite the limited budget, Candy exceeded than what I expected to. The uniqueness of the characters swapping into different characters in the same scene, and also being able to familiarize the moment, is extremely very impressive.”
— Xena Frailing, Voice Magazine
“Sure to score a hit with audiences”
— Nilgün Yusuf, London Pub Theatres
“This stage adaptation captures the emotional and psychological toll of substance abuse with searing honesty — and what could have been a grim descent into 75 minutes of despair is instead a gripping, nuanced, and deeply human story of love, dependency, and loss.”
— Bernadette Lintunen, London Theatre 1
“A truly enthralling seventy minutes of theatre about love and addiction”
— Stacey Cullen, The Spy in the Stalls
“Despite the limited budget, Candy exceeded than what I expected to. The uniqueness of the characters swapping into different characters in the same scene, and also being able to familiarize the moment, is extremely very impressive.”
— Xena Frailing, Voice Magazine
“Sure to score a hit with audiences”
— Nilgün Yusuf, London Pub Theatres
“This stage adaptation captures the emotional and psychological toll of substance abuse with searing honesty — and what could have been a grim descent into 75 minutes of despair is instead a gripping, nuanced, and deeply human story of love, dependency, and loss.”
— Bernadette Lintunen, London Theatre 1
“A truly enthralling seventy minutes of theatre about love and addiction”
— Stacey Cullen, The Spy in the Stalls
2025
Edinburgh Fringe — Bedlam Theatre
Bedlam Theatre, Edinburgh
12–17 Aug 2025
Cast
Freya James as Candy
Levi Kenway as Dan
Crew
Adapting writer & director
Kate Elliott
Co-movement director
Alex McCauley
Co-movement director
Laure Bachelot
Intimacy coordinator
Hlamalani Georgina
Reviews
“A slick, engaging piece of theatre with humour, pathos and a clear theatrical know-how.”
— The Student, The Student
“A must see! Moving, thoughtful, ingenious use of movement woven into a beautifully performed portrayal of well crafted script. Best yet.”
— Audience review, Edinburgh Festival Fringe
“A slick, engaging piece of theatre with humour, pathos and a clear theatrical know-how.”
— The Student, The Student
“A must see! Moving, thoughtful, ingenious use of movement woven into a beautifully performed portrayal of well crafted script. Best yet.”
— Audience review, Edinburgh Festival Fringe

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