Wilko: Love and Death and Rock ‘n’ Roll

The extraordinary story of Wilko Johnson: rock 'n' roll icon, founder of the legendary band Dr Feelgood and Game of Thrones star. 

In 2012, Wilko was told he had inoperable cancer and a year to live. Refusing all treatment, he decided to spend his last months living meaningfully: seeing the people, places and things which meant most to him during his remarkable life.

Suddenly, he was bigger than ever and headline news all over the world. He recorded a number one album with Roger Daltrey, embarked on a sold-out final farewell tour, and was described by a national newspaper as “Our Greatest Living Englishman.” And then, a miracle happened…

A hilarious, moving, exciting mixture of drama, comedy and live rock 'n' roll, Wilko: Love and Death and Rock ‘n’ Roll tells the amazing, uplifting true story of Wilko, the punk pioneer, poet, philosopher and astronomer.

In this special production for Leicester Square Theatre, the cast will be joined on stage every night by very special guest stars from the worlds of comedy and rock 'n' roll to celebrate the life, loves and occasional disastrous mistakes of this utterly unique Canvey Island legend:

Friday, 25 July 2025, 7pm: Robert Peston, Ed Balls, John Wilson, Chris Tayler

Saturday, 26 July 2025, 3pm: Eugene Butcher (Vive Le Rock / Desperate Measures), Michael 'Gaff' Gaffney (Desperate Measures)

Saturday, 26 July 2025, 7pm: Jonathan Maitland (writer) Norman Watt-Roy (Ian Dury and the Blockheads, the Wilko Johnson Band) Simon Johnson (Wilko’s son, Eight Rounds Rapid).

Sunday, 27 July 2025, 3pm: Chris Difford (Squeeze)

CAST:

Georgina Fairbanks
Georgina Field
Jon House
David John
and
Johnson Willis as Wilko Johnson

CREATIVES:
Writer: Jonathan Maitland
Director: Dugald Bruce-Lockhart
Designer: Nicolai Hart Hansen
Lighting designer: James Stokes
Sound designer & composer: Simon Slater
Producer: Denise Silvey
Production manager: Roy Gould
Costume supervisor: Caroline Hannam