The show, based on the memoir Live at the Brixton Academy by Simon Parkes, will run at the theatre from the 23rd July until the 16th August.
It has been announced that Brixton Calling, written by Alex Urwin will have its world premiere in London this summer, directed by Bronagh Lagan, the director of Olivier-nominated Cruise.
The drama is inspired by Simon Parkes’ bestselling memoir Live at the Brixton Academy, a 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.
Talking about the production, 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.”
Meanwhile, writer Alex Urwin and producer John Dinneen add: “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.”
The cast and creative team have yet to be announced.
To book tickets visit: https://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/productions/brixton-calling/