A UNIVERSITY of West London (UWL) production is the first locally supported start-up to hit the West End in time for Christmas, following repeated cancellations due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Stage play, GHBoy , which ran for two sold-out shows before lockdown, halted performances for a second time.

The play will now return to the Charing Cross Theatre from December 3 to 20, as the first play to receive support as a new business from UWL's Westmont Enterprise Hub.

Written by UWL acting lecturer Paul Harvard and starring London College of Music (LCM) graduates, it was all made possible following a wealth of support from Westmont Enterprise Hub, which took the project on as a new business and start-up, rather than just a theatre production.

Westmont Enterprise Hub team transformed the production into a company with ownership over everything from the script and creative copyright, right through to taking on actors as employees rather than freelance performers.

The new way of working helped negotiate theatre space and secured investment and support, including an Arts Council COVID grant.

Stephen Fry, Executive Director of Westmont Enterprise Hub, said: "The team was instrumental in the development of GHBoy from its inception, and we've found this novel way of managing a creative production incredibly successful.

"It is unusual for a production company to own the script as an asset, for example, but in making the company a vehicle for investment, we've been far more successful and able to access funding and additional support.

"We're always looking for new ways to support emerging talent and to innovate, and this is an excellent example of what can be achieved by different ways of thinking and working."