The man who bought Brixton Academy for £1 and turned it into one of Britain’s most iconic music venues, will see his story return to the London stage in an expanded production of Brixton Calling.
The show will run for seven weeks at Southwark Playhouse Borough’s Large Auditorium from 22 January to 13 March 2027, with musician Nadine Lee joining returning leads Max Runham and Tendai Sitima.
Dubbed ‘The King of Gigs’ by The Sunday Times, Simon Parkes took over the former cinema in 1983 and built its reputation hosting artists including The Smiths, Beastie Boys, Diana Ross and Public Enemy.
His bestselling memoir, Live at the Brixton Academy, inspired the show, which returns following its acclaimed 2025 run.
Directed by Bronagh Lagan, whose credits include the Olivier Award-nominated Cruise, Brixton Calling tells the extraordinary story of the venue’s rise through the eyes of the people who were there.
Actor-musicians Max Runham and Tendai Sitima reprise their roles as Simon Parkes and Johnny Lawes, the kindred spirits who built the iconic South London venue from the ground up.
Trading lightning-fast dialogue while shredding on guitars, the pair capture the riotous spirit of the music scene and the deep bond at the heart of the story. Joining them is musician Nadine Lee, who has performed with artists including Self Esteem, Lizzo and Stormzy.
Her addition brings a fresh surge of live gig energy, blurring the line between theatre and a raw concert experience.
Simon Parkes says: “Seeing my life and the wild history of the Brixton Academy explode onto the stage during the 2025 run was incredibly surreal. As someone who also navigates the world with one arm, seeing Max bring that same physical reality to the stage adds an undeniable level of authenticity. He creates an instant, powerful connection to the story. I can't wait to see this larger, louder version blow audiences away.”
Part live gig, part memoir, part fever dream, this is a true story of rock ’n’ roll survival… insofar as anyone can remember it!
For booking and further information go to https://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/productions/brixton-calling/
