FRESH out of Oxford University where he has been writing and staging plays, Tom Costello is bringing a musical to the Broadway Theatre in Catford.
Central Line features muslim girl, Amina, and her two week relationship with Brian, around the time of the two London bombings.
The relationship develops as they search for Amina’s friend, Tasneem.
The play opens with them bumping into each other on the underground four years later and memories of the two week search is shown through flashbacks and music.
Co-written with friend, Aisha Mirza it took them a year from conception to completion and has already been shown in Oxford.
The 21-year-old explained: “It’s Aisha’s story in a lot of ways. I spoke to her about some many different things.
"The guy character is not necessarily similar to me but he had that some sort of problems of confrontation with a girl from a very different cultural background.”
“I think it’s a really interesting piece. It’s really something quite different.
“I hope it’s also fun and entertaining.”
The action is all played out with only two actors and a band of three people.
“I hope it’s not one of those terrible parody musicals you get going to Edinburgh. I don’t want you to think it’s 7/7 the musical.”
Tom, who has just finished an English degree at St Catherine’s College is no stranger to success having won a BBC World Service competition for a short story about environmental activists on an oil platform in the arctic at the age of 18, but says he enjoys writing plays more and “can’t act to save my life.”
The former Langley Park pupil, who lives in Forest Hill, counts his inspirations as playwrights with “good dialogue” such as Tom Stoppard.
And the best time he finds for writing is in the morning.
He admits: “The reason I’ve been able to work at Oxford is I treated it like work, treated it like a deadline, I leave it til the last minute.”
As for ambitions: “I would love to write some more for stage or TV or film.”
He has got a good start as he is begins work as an assistant producer on the Southbank Show in October.
But for the moment he is just waiting to see what the public make of Circle Line.
He says: “I really want it to be seen again.
“Hopefully it will show that the piece has got some potential.”
Circle Line, Studio Theatre, Broadway Theatre, Catford, July 15-18, 8pm.
Box Office 020 8690 0002, broadwaytheatre.org.uk
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here