01-08-2025
Harrogate squash champion takes show to Edinburgh Fringe
A former squash champion who turned his life story into a one-person play is taking his show to the Edinburgh Willstrop, from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, swapped the squash court for the theatre to write the musical "Daddy, Tomorrow Will I Be a Man?", about the meaning of success, both as an athlete and a Willstrop was the world's number one squash player in 2012, scooping three world team championship titles over the course of his career and winning seven medals at the Commonwealth Games. His musical play debuted at Friargate in York and now begins a two-week stint at theSpace @ Niddry Street, Edinburgh.
The show centres on Mr Willstrop's determination to become world champion at the same time as his partner Vanessa Atkinson - also a former world number one squash player - wanted to have a said: "This story is real and true, but it's looking at the push and pull between being a father and being a champion, and the problems that my mentality caused. "Because I had to train so hard... you lose sight of what can really matter." He added: "Sport is important to a lot of us, that is how a lot of us are wired to be, but it got a bit unhealthy and I kind of regret that sometimes.
"I think it could have been more balanced - but then maybe I wouldn't have reached the levels that I did. Or maybe I would!"The couple went on to have two boys, who he said are both interested in learning the Willstrop is now a coach at Pontefract Squash Club in West Yorkshire, where his own journey began.
During the play, Mr Willstrop explores the theme of success through reflections and memories of his late mother, who died 10 years he endures a tough training session on stage, he wonders what matters most - becoming world champion, or becoming a good person. Despite his sporting success, Mr Willstrop said he was still "so nervous" about performing on said: "You wake up and think, what am I doing? All the doubts come in. "It is the ultimate in being self-indulgent and you think, how obsessed with yourself can you be? But I'm trying to be light with it and hopefully share it."
He added: "Being a world number one squash player takes enormous amounts of selfishness and dedication towards you just being good. "So for those years when you are very good, you have to be 100 per cent all about how you improve every single day - it is selfish. "Then at a certain point, when you have children, you understand that. "I think every person who has children does, they think, how important is our life and our success in what we do, in our jobs? "How important is that when you relate it to your family and the things that matter I guess."
Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
