We’re thrilled to announce that The White Chip, an autobiographical recovery comedy by Sean Daniels—a Sober Curator Contributor—is making its UK premiere this summer in London’s Southwark Playhouse Borough from July 9 to August 16, 2025. This compelling and witty production has taken audiences by storm off-Broadway, and now it’s ready to do the same across the Atlantic.
As our UK readership continues to grow, this news couldn’t be more timely. For those navigating sobriety or curious about the complexities of addiction, The White Chip offers a profoundly moving—and surprisingly funny—portrayal of one man’s struggle to get sober and the beautiful chaos that leads him there.
🎭 The Story Behind the Show
Written by Sean Daniels and based on his own life, The White Chip centers on Steven McAlister, a talented theatre director who’s doing everything but staying sober. He’s got the dream job, a thriving career, a marriage, and even finds time for AA meetings where he grabs a white chip token “just for showing up.” However, as his personal life teeters on the edge, it becomes clear that Steven’s grip on his carefully balanced world is slipping.
The story, brimming with humor, heartbreak, and raw humanity, peels back the layers of addiction and reveals the redemptive power of recovery.
Powerhouse producers Danielle Tarento, Tony Award®-winner Annaleigh Ashford, and Creative Partners Productions bring this new UK production to you. It’s directed by Matt Ryan, with an exceptional creative team behind the scenes, including Lee Newby (design), Jamie Platt (lighting), and Max Pappenheim (sound). Casting is still under wraps, but expectations are sky-high.
🤝 Partnering with Performing Recovery
In a remarkable act of community and advocacy, the production is collaborating with Performing Recovery, the public face of the Addiction Recovery Arts Network, a UK-based nonprofit using creative expression to reduce stigma and promote healing. A percentage of ticket sales will benefit this important organization.
After each performance, Leon Clowes, co-founder of the network, will be on hand with The Alcoholic’s Tarot—his custom card deck used for lighthearted (but deeply resonant) readings. Whether you’re seeking guidance or just need someone to talk to after an emotional show, Leon will be there. Follow him on IG @leonclowes.
From NYC to the UK – My Personal Experience
As the Founder of The Sober Curator, I had the profound privilege of experiencing The White Chip during its Broadway run in New York City. On February 14, 2024, I stepped into the Susan & Ronald Frankel Theater at MCC and found myself transported by a story that felt intimately familiar.
Starring Joe Tapper and directed by Tony Award® nominee Sheryl Kaller, the production was intimate, visceral, and emotionally gripping. Sitting just feet from the stage, I felt completely invested in Steven’s journey—as if I were right there beside him, willing him towards sobriety.
In that moment, I wasn’t just a spectator. I was a peer in the room, someone who understood the stakes, the shame, and the salvation. For those of us in long-term recovery—or simply hoping to understand it—The White Chip doesn’t just entertain. It awakens.
🔗 Read my full NYC review here.
🎟 London, Don’t Miss This
The White Chip is more than a play. It’s a lifeline wrapped in laughter, a mirror reflecting our shared humanity, and a celebration of the messy, miraculous road to recovery. Whether you’re sober, sober-curious, or simply love great theatre—this is your moment.
Southwark Playhouse Borough 📍 London audiences: Prepare to laugh, cry, and possibly change your life.
77-85 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BD
🗓 July 9 – August 16, 2025
🎟 Tickets & Info: southwarkplayhouse.co.uk
🔮 Follow on IG: @whitechipplay
🌐 Learn more: www.whitechipplay.com
🔮 Sober Curator Pro Tip
Want a sneak peek? Watch my IG Reel of The White Chip from its NYC run.
🖤 Final Thoughts
As The White Chip lands in London, it carries with it the echoes of every person who’s ever questioned their drinking, every family fractured by addiction, and every soul stitched back together through recovery. It’s a story that demands to be seen—and felt.
Here’s to stories that heal, to theatre that transforms, and to the brave souls who say yes to recovery—one white chip at a time.
SOBER EVENTS: Never miss out on community events across the United States. We’re doing our best to comb the web for all kinds of sober events to keep you entertained and connected to your local communities. From sober comedy shows, non-alcoholic tastings, festivals, retreats, sporting events, and more – we aim to showcase the vibrant happenings from coast to coast.
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Resources Are Available
If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties surrounding alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness, please reach out and ask for help. People everywhere can and want to help; you just have to know where to look. And continue to look until you find what works for you. Click here for a list of regional and national resources.
