Wilko: Love and Death and Rock 'n' Roll

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…

A play with live music comes to Cheltenham,  direct from the Leicester Square Theatre in London’s West End and before that, from the Southwark Playhouse,  following critical and audience acclaim in its initial run at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch in 2024. 

**** “ Gloriously raw… superbly played … They do it right”. Daily Mirror 

****  “Intoxicating… Strikingly poignant”. Reviews Hub 

“A stonking star turn … Johnson Willis is magnificent”. Guardian

Special Guests.
For each performance, the band will be joined by special guests from the world of stage, screen and music

Tuesday at 7.30pm: Norman Watt-Roy (Ian Dury and the Blockheads, the Wilko Johnson Band) and Wilko's son Simon Johnson (Eight Round Rapid). They'll be joined for a post-show Q and A with Charlie Chan, the Cheltenham doctor who saved Wilko's life.

Wednesday at 7.30pm: Cheltenham Blues Legends night featuring Keith Thompson, Mark Cole and Stuart Earl.

Thursday at 2pm: James Oliver, Mark Kemlo and Norman Watt-Roy

Thursday at 7.30pm: Spike, founding member of The Quireboys and Luke Morley (Thunder)

Friday at 7.30pm: Star of stage and screen Keith Allen and Nick Reynolds (Alabama 3)

Saturday at 2pm: Matty James Cassidy (The Real Villians, The Balladmongrels, The Dogs D'Amour) and Mike 'Gaff' Gaffney (The Real Villians, The Glitterati)

Saturday at 7.30pm: Special guests to be announced.