In 2012, Wilko Johnson, the iconic rock star and founder of legendary Essex band Dr Feelgood, 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.
Then, a miracle happened….
This world premiere production of a new play – a mixture of words, rock ‘n roll, and quotes from the man himself – tells the amazing, uplifting true story of Wilko, the Canvey Island legend.
“Anyone who is a fan of Dr Feelgood or Wilko Johnson should see it.”
“10/10 – I want to see it again!”
Jonathan Maitland is a playwright and former journalist having worked for the BBC across Radio 4, BBC News and presenting and producing shows for BBC 1. Maitland’s debut stage play Dead Sheep (2015) produced at Park Theatre became the most successful production in the theatre’s history. This record was broken by his second play also staged at Park Theatre An Audience With Jimmy Saville (2015), which went on to transfer to Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Further works at Park Theatre include Deny Deny Deny (2016) and the box office record breaking The Last Temptation of Boris Johnson (2019) which went on to complete an eight-week national tour in 2020. Most recently, Maitland presented the premiere of his new play The Interview at Park Theatre and his BBC Radio 4 adaptation of Wasps in a Jam Jar in 2023.
A Fiery Angel in Association with Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch production
The 39 Steps, brilliantly and hilariously recreated for the stage as the smash hit Olivier and Tony Award Winning Comedy, is back out on a UK tour after nearly 10 years in London’s West End, taking Broadway by storm, playing in 39 different countries across the globe, and delighting over 3 million people worldwide with its quintessentially plucky spirit and dashing sense of fun.
Follow the incredible adventures of our handsome hero Richard Hannay, complete with stiff-upper-lip, British gung-ho and pencil moustache as he encounters dastardly murders, double-crossing secret agents, and, of course, devastatingly beautiful women. This wonderfully inventive and gripping comedy thriller features four fearless actors, playing 139 roles in 100 minutes of fast-paced fun and thrilling action.
**** “A joyous version of the Hitchcock classic” The Sunday Times
**** “Hilarious” Sunday Express
“Dizzyingly Entertaining” The Telegraph
John Buchan’s The 39 Steps, adapted by Patrick Barlow. From an original concept by Simon Corble and Nobby Dimon
A Theatre Nation Partnerships production produced by Curve
“Could anyone in their right mind call this silly little island off of Europe their home?”
Based on Hanif Kureishi’s iconic and Oscar-nominated screenplay and last brought to the stage in 2019 directed by Nikolai Foster, My Beautiful Laundrette is set in London during the Thatcher years and tells the story of young British Pakistani, Omar, who transforms his Uncle’s run-down laundrette into a thriving business. After being confronted by a fascist gang, Omar recognises school friend Johnny and uses their history to diffuse the situation. As they renovate the laundrette together, love blossoms between them.
This culture clash comedy is also a subversive work of social realism, sprinkled with magic and joy running through the rich veins of Kureishi’s writing. This bold production of Kureishi’s ground-breaking film, directed by Nicole Behan, explores cultural conflict, gender equality, class and generational strife, all presented against a funky backdrop of 80s music and culture with additional original music composed by the Pet Shop Boys’ Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe.
My Beautiful Laundrette was developed with the support of the National Theatre’s Generate programme.