Award-nominated Brixton Calling to return for second London run

Brixton Calling, written by Alex Urwin and directed by Bronagh Lagan, will return to London for a seven-week run.

The production follows a sold-out run in 2025, during which it won three Off-West End Awards, including Best Overall Production, Best Lighting Design and Best Sound and Music Design. It also received a WhatsOnStage Award nomination and nine Fringe Theatre Award nominations.

Inspired by Simon Parkes’ memoir Live at the Brixton Academy, the play tells the story of how Parkes bought a derelict cinema in Brixton for £1 in 1983, aged 23, and transformed it into an internationally recognised music venue over the following decade.

The show will play at Southwark Playhouse Borough, now in the venue’s larger space, from 22 January to 13 March 2027. The production opens on 27 January at 7pm.

Originating producers Kick It Anywhere are joined by Aria Entertainment’s Katy Lipson and co-producer Guy James Theatrical for the new staging, which will take place in the venue’s Large auditorium. Tickets go on sale today, with prices starting at £10.

Max Runham returns as Simon Parkes, alongside Tendai Humphrey Sitima as Johnny Lawes. Both performers play multiple characters and perform live music. Nadine Lee joins them as an on-stage musician, while Sean Green is musical supervisor. The production features music associated with the venue’s history, including songs by The Clash, Blondie, Bob Marley, Bruce Springsteen, Fela Kuti, Billy Ocean and The Prodigy.

Parkes said: “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. Both Max and Tendai are spectacular and I can’t wait to see this larger, louder version blow audiences away.”

Lipson added: “I was completely struck by the raw, kinetic energy of the original run produced by Alex and Kick It Anywhere. This new production offers the perfect opportunity to bring the show to a grander canvas. By upscaling Brixton Calling to Southwark’s Large auditorium, we are giving this incredible team the space to amplify everything that made it a hit. It’s exactly the kind of bold, high-octane theatre we pride ourselves on championing.”

The production will continue to work with grassroots organisations across South London, including community music and creative arts centre Raw Material Music and The Soulstice Collective.

The creative team includes set and costume designer Nik Corrall, lighting designer Derek Anderson, sound designer Max Pappenheim and AV designer Matt Powell. Gabbie Sills is general manager for Seventh Productions.