Damon Gould will be playing Noel in the UK premiere of Ride the Cyclone when it opens on Friday 14th November at Southwark Playhouse Elephant, working with a cast including Edward Wu as The Amazing Karnak and Jack Maverick as Ricky, with Ride the Cyclone running until Saturday 10th January 2026, and the script is by Jacob Richmond and Brooke Maxwell. In September, Damon finished his run as Swing in Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre, where he also understudied the Emcee and Clifford Bradshaw, and he was in the UK premiere of NEWSIES at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre in 2022/23 playing Finch and understudy Davey. Having made his stage debut on tour as an Angel in Kinky Boots, Damon went on to appear in the original West End cast of Pretty Woman: The Musical at the Piccadilly Theatre, which opened for previews in February 2020, before closing due to the COVID pandemic, and he returned to the show in 2021 at the Savoy Theatre. For the world premiere of But I’m a Cheerleader: The Musical at the Turbine Theatre, Damon originated the role of André, and he was directed by Nikolai Foster when he played Sonny in Grease at the Dominion Theatre in 2022. Speaking with Damon, we found out from him about his upcoming role of Noel in Ride the Cyclone at Southwark Playhouse Elephant, his time in Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre and performing as Sonny in Grease at the Dominion Theatre.

What are you looking forward to most for performing in the UK premiere of Ride the Cyclone as Noel at Southwark Playhouse Elephant?

For UK audiences to fall in love with this piece of theatre. It’s a feast for the eyes and warmth for the heart. There’s something in it for everybody!

Was there anything that drew you to Ride the Cyclone and how different do you think this show will be like to perform in as opposed to your previous projects?

I think once I realised what it was and I doom scrolled TikTok and found a community of people that adored the musical, I felt I’d involuntarily joined a really niche theatre group. I then realised “oh wow, this is what theatre is all about”. I’ve been lucky to be a part of a few shows now with some real loyal fan bases, and seeing people find friends and community in those spaces brings me such joy.

Can you tell us about Ride the Cyclone, and how is it being part of the UK premiere production?

I’m honoured to be originating this UK premiere. I love the show and I’m a fan first and foremost, so to be able to bring myself to the role of Noel is a true honour.

There’s so much of him that lives in me and my teenage self that it’s so rewarding to be able to tell a bit of my story. As artists, you can’t ask for anything more fruitful than that.

How would you describe your character Noel and what is the role like to play?

A closeted teenager leading a double life. Incredibly embarrassed to have any light on him yet craves it. He longs for more and is unsatisfied with the cards he’s been dealt. He uses his nihilistic brain to fuel his fantasies to escape from the dead-end town lifestyle with a little help from a close friend, whom he’s named Monique, inspired by new wave French cinema starlets. Noel is very much present in my life. I’m a self-proclaimed romanticist, and I proudly say that with my chest. Exploring him has been really fun.

How has it been meeting the rest of the cast – which includes Edward Wu as Karnak and Jack Maverick as Ricky – and reading Jacob Richmond and Brooke Maxwell’s script?

What a bunch of gorgeous, talented, grounded humans. Wow! I feel I’ve really lucked out. It’s been fascinating learning about everyone’s growing up and experience. The show is essentially an ensemble piece. A cast of seven plus two offstage understudies. It feels like a family already. I cannot wait to perform with them all. The humour in this writing is one of my favourite elements, and I’m already finding it so hard not to laugh during scenes. I can’t wait to hear people’s reactions to what we are doing with the material.

Why would you recommend booking tickets to see Ride the Cyclone at Southwark Playhouse Elephant, which is open from Friday 14th November until Saturday 10th January 2026?

If there’s anything you do today, let it be this. You won’t regret it.

In September, you finished your run as Swing in Cabaret in the West End at the Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre, how did you find the experience working on the production and how was it seeing the audience response to the musical?

Cabaret was always going to be a shiny one. Such an incredibly important story and so prevalent in today’s difficult climate. It celebrates the misfits and enforces dancing in the face of oppression. When I first saw the show, I couldn’t speak for hours after. I was stunned by what I had witnessed. I just knew in my heart it was so me. I had two of the most incredible years and truly found family in that building. I achieved things in that theatre I never thought were possible for people like me.

What was it like understudying the role of the Emcee and how was it getting into character?

I’m still processing it, to be honest. I don’t think I’ll ever fully recover. It’s been the greatest honour of my life so far. Stepping into his shoes altered my chemistry. I’m forever changed by him. He taught me so much.

What did you enjoy most about being a Swing in Cabaret and also going on to perform as understudy to Clifford Bradshaw?

I covered every bit of that stage. Said almost every bit of text. Wore every costume in any configuration. I could honestly play the show in my head, it is ingrained in my consciousness. It’s the swing spice that keeps the food fresh.

Understudying Cliff was also a huge cog turn in my head. Something I didn’t think was for me. A very heavy acting role. No movement to rely on or hide behind, and I adored it so much more than I thought I would. It ignited a fire for acting that had been itching my gut. Cliff will always remain in my “I did that!” and often the thing I refer to mentally when I’m feeling a bit unsure in my ability.

What was it like being involved with Newsies at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre as Finch and understudy Davey for their UK premiere in 2022/23?

I’d admired the show from afar ever since it opened on Broadway. I’d watch YouTube clips of Seize the Day and was enamoured by these brilliant boys flipping and spinning. I didn’t think it would ever make it over here so when I heard they were doing a new production, there was no doubt in my mind that I had to be involved. Still to this day, the hardest audition room I’ve ever been in. The show formed such deep bonds with my new set of 20 brothers. We truly were a pack. Physically, the most demanding thing I’ve done and some of my proudest work to date. That job was a give-back to the younger me. And I loved covering Davey – being an older brother myself, I loved the rapport between him and Les. That felt really incredible, seeing these talented young boys at the very start of long careers ahead.

Can you tell us about your time playing Sonny in Grease at the Dominion Theatre in the West End?

Another huge highlight in my career. The creation process for this was so playful. Nikolai Foster is one of my favourite directors, and he made Grease feel as “us” as possible, which I think is why it worked so well. It was the summer of them all. I met friends for life on that one. A really special one and often what I refer to when people ask me what’s been my favourite job thus far.

How was it originating the role of André in the world premiere of But I’m a Cheerleader: The Musical at the Turbine Theatre and what was it like telling the story?

Cheerleader was a really fun collaborative process. I’m a huge fan of the film, so to be a part of the first UK production and to originate such a diva like André was really exciting. The story centres around conversion therapy, but done through a dark comedy lens. I remember having many discussions with the other actors involved and hearing their experiences growing up. It was a very queer cast, which was special. I found my feet a lot during that contract and found it very healing.

Having been in the original West End cast of Pretty Woman: The Musical at the Piccadilly Theatre (which opened for previews in February 2020), how was it returning to live theatre when the show could reopen in July 2021 at the Savoy Theatre?

It definitely was surreal. When the show closed, I had yet to make my debut. I was scheduled to go on on Friday, and we closed on Tuesday. There was definitely an increased anxiety returning to theatre, but it just accelerated my love for it even more, being without it for however long we were postponed. Definitely don’t take it for granted. Very grateful I had something to go back to during that time. That security was really important. Looking into an audience and seeing masks instead of smiles was something that will never leave my brain.

What are some of your stand-out memories from touring with Kinky Boots as an Angel for your professional stage debut?

I had a poster of Kinky Boots during my time at college, so to be a part of the first UK Tour as a graduate, I thought I’d won a competition. My memories from touring aren’t so much of the show but all the things we would do in each venue – zip-lining in Wales, Christmas markets in Edinburgh, The Crystal Maze Experience in Manchester, nights out in various locations… It was really exciting exploring the UK and seeing all the different corners. Also, going to my home venue in Birmingham and performing there was a real full-circle moment as that’s where I’d seen my first musical years before – We Will Rock You.

How did you get into acting and was it always something you wanted to do professionally?

I was a Boy Scout growing up. Every year, we would do a variety performance and do several musical theatre-esque numbers and present it to the public. My scout leader spoke to my mum and told her it may be a good idea to enrol me into some local theatre things, as I would spend most of my time dancing in the club hall rather than tying knots and learning the scouts motto. From there, I started dancing at a local school and, through that, went on to explore more into musical theatre. I was always putting on shows growing up. My best friend from school and I would come up with scenarios and act them out in the street until somebody would tell us off for being too loud.

Do you have any favourite theatre shows to watch, and which would you like to see that you haven’t as yet?

Whenever I have time and money to go and see theatre, I often will go to watch something that is so far from what I’m currently doing/have been in. I enjoy seeing different types of theatre, in different ways of presenting it. I’ve heard amazing things about Punch and The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. I have booked Punchdrunk’s new immersive gaming theatre experience in December, which I’m looking forward to going to!

How do you like to spend your time away from performing?

I love gaming. It’s my ultimate wind-down peace place. I really enjoy baking too. I make a banging cookie. Ask my Cabaret cast for proof.

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