National Theatre Live: Golden Boy

New York in the 1930s, at the height of the Great Depression. Joe Bonaparte is a talented young violinist with a promising future in music – until he is lured by the chance to achieve fame and fortune in the world of professional boxing. In this brutal new environment, however, he must decide what he is willing to sacrifice, who he is willing to become, and how he will find his place in a world that demands he choose whose side he is on.

The production, accompanied by a live string quartet, will be filmed live at London’s Almeida Theatre, where it runs throughout September and October 2026. Olivier Award-winner Sam Yates (National Theatre Live: Vanya) directs this compelling drama exploring ambition, identity and the high price of success.