Presented by Theatre On The River in association with Stephen Leslie Productions
by Joseph Dewey & Helen Goodman
Saturday 3rd – Sunday 18th October
The Falkland Islands, July 2002. Jane has been keeping a secret for 20 years, and amidst the grip of patriotism as the islanders celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, Jane returns to pack up the family home following the death of her mother.
Jane takes the audience on a journey through the Falklands conflict of 1982, which she shared with her younger brother, where isolation and fear became the daily norm.
Toy Soldier is a play about family and survival set against the backdrop of one of the most harrowing conflicts in modern history.
Join us on Monday 12th October for a post show talk and Q&A
“Toy Soldier leaves an indelible impression, weaving the scars of war into the fragile bonds of family.“
Squirp ★★★★
“Toy Soldier is a poignant tale of loss, love and family in wartime, offering a relevant and hard-hitting exploration of conflict and its long-lasting repercussions.”
A Youngish Perspective ★★★/3.5
“An emotional, gripping tale of survival and loss that captivated the audience and left a lasting impact.”
We are Waterloo
“Fascinating characters brought to life by a talented cast.”
LondonTheatre1
Cast
Nico Conde – Alejo
Nicolás Conde is an Argentine actor, playwright, and producer with an international career spanning theater, television, and film. Known for his versatility and commanding screen and stage presence, he began his career in Argentina starring in acclaimed productions such as Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story.
Driven by a commitment to artistic growth, Conde moved to New York to further his training. He graduated from the prestigious HB Studio, founded by Herbert Berghof, and continued his studies at the renowned Stella Adler Studio, building a strong foundation in classical and contemporary acting techniques.
He later established his career in Spain, working across a range of international productions. His television credits include appearances in the critically acclaimed series Westworld (HBO), The Innocent (Netflix), and El Mal Invisible (Disney). His stage work has also taken him to London’s West End, where he starred in productions such as Steve and Toy Soldier.
Alongside his work as an actor, Conde continues to develop projects as a playwright and producer, bringing a distinctive creative voice to both stage and screen.
Matthew Edgar – Billy
Matthew is a graduate of the MFA Acting course at The Guildford School of Acting, having previously graduated from The University of Leeds.
Matthew began his professional career originating the role of Nathan in ‘Wet Feet’ at The Union Theatre, for which he was nominated for an Off West-End Award. Matthew is also the writer and performer of the critically acclaimed show “Daniel Moore’s Definitive Guide to Failure-Free Living”, which is returning to London in August.
Paul Gorman – Mark
Paul is a London-based actor recently seen in the Netflix series ‘Outlander’ and BBC drama ‘Mayflies.’ Paul has also recently finished in the Edinburgh Theatre production of ‘Baby Mash-up, what on Earth are you doing?’
Holly Prentice – Jane
Holly is a professional actress working across film, television and theatre, with additional expertise in stunts and professional dance.
Her recent screen credits include a role in an upcoming Hollywood action feature (currently under NDA, due for release in January 2027), EastEnders as Jessica (BBC), and the action drama Double Kill as Kia/Lina (Amazon Prime UK/US and Apple TV).
Other credits include Jenny in Hearts in Colombo, Jane in the action thriller Bad Day at the Office, and Emma in Hindsight, the world’s first one-shot improvised feature film.
Holly has also performed stunt/ action work on The Witcher: Blood Origin , The Marvels (Disney) and The Crown (Netflix).
She is delighted to be working with this hugely talented company and is thrilled to bring Jane to life here at the wonderful Union Theatre.
Creatives
Helen Goodman – Co-writer
Helen Goodman is the co-writer and director of Toy Soldier, which had it’s world premiere at The Union Theatre, Waterloo, in January 2025. Helen is a freelance writer and director and owns Theatre on the River which is a youth theatre company based in schools across London.
Joseph Dewey – Co-writer
Joseph Dewey is an award-winning British director and author. His film ‘Pink Feathers’ (Amazon Prime) won Best Director at the CineFashion Film Awards LA. A BAFTA member, he works across film and stage, especially video direction and is the author of ‘Don’t Be a D*ck’ & ‘London in Lockdown’.