New play BRIXTON CALLING to open at Southwark Playhouse Borough
The world premiere of Brixton Calling, an electric new play by Alex Urwin, infused with a live soundtrack of reggae, punk, rock and rave, will play at Southwark Playhouse Borough from 23 July-16 August.
Directed by Bronagh Lagan, the director of Olivier-nominated Cruise, this drama is inspired by Simon Parkes’ bestselling memoir Live at the Brixton Academy, a remarkable and deeply personal true story about a 23-year-old outsider who bought a derelict cinema for £1 in 1983, called it The Academy and transformed it into the iconic music venue that changed everything. Set during a time of complex social and political change, this nostalgic love letter to a place and sound that defined an era is brought to life for the first time on stage just fifteen minutes from where it all happened.
Director Bronagh Lagan said: “Brixton Calling isn’t just a play — it’s a riot of sound, story, and spirit. Set against the fire of ’80s Brixton —a place where pain met power, and out of the cracks, something electric grew. A time of unrest, resistance, and radical creativity — this show hits hard, plays loud and grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go.”
Writer Alex Urwin and producer John Dinneen added: “Brixton Calling is a joyous time capsule for music fans and just as importantly, an entry point into the big questions of how all of music, politics, south London and Britain changed through the ‘80s and ‘90s - for better and for worse - and the legacies of that change we’re still working through today. We can’t wait to transport audiences back in time to experience the legendary moments that became part of this country’s music history.”
Full casting will be announced shortly.
