The cast has been announced for the national tour of Wilko: Love and Death and Rock ‘n’ Roll, the acclaimed biographical play celebrating the extraordinary life of Dr Feelgood co-founder Wilko Johnson.
Johnson Willis returns to the title role, having previously starred in the production’s earlier runs in London. He is joined once again by Georgina Field, Jon House and David John, while stage and screen actor Lara Lemon joins the company for the forthcoming tour.
Written by Jonathan Maitland, Wilko: Love and Death and Rock ‘n’ Roll tells the remarkable true story of one of British rock’s most influential figures. Following a terminal cancer diagnosis in 2012, Johnson was told he had just one year to live, prompting him to embark on a farewell tour before an unexpected turn of events transformed his future.
The production explores Johnson’s life and career, from co-founding Dr Feelgood and helping shape the punk movement, to performing with Ian Dury and the Blockheads and appearing on screen in Game of Thrones. Blending live music with storytelling and Johnson’s own words, the show celebrates a life lived with extraordinary determination and spirit.
The tour follows the production’s successful premiere at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch in 2024 before subsequent runs at Southwark Playhouse and Leicester Square Theatre in 2025. Previous London engagements featured appearances from renowned musicians including Billy Bragg, John Cooper Clarke, Chris Difford and Norman Watt-Roy, with further special guests expected during the national tour.
The production arrives as the legacy of Wilko Johnson and Dr Feelgood continues to be celebrated. The band’s influential debut album Down by the Jetty marked its 50th anniversary in 2025, while 2026 marks 50 years since the chart-topping live album Stupidity, which became the first live album to reach number one in the UK charts in its first week of release.
Writer Jonathan Maitland said, “Wilko’s is one of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll stories ever told and his songs are some of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll ever recorded. Even so, when I first read the play to him at his home in Southend five years ago, none of us could have imagined how much his story would go on to connect with audiences. My only regret is that he’s not around to see this tour happen but I know, for sure, that he would have been absolutely thrilled.”
The creative team includes director Dugald Bruce-Lockhart, designer Nicolai Hart-Hansen, lighting designer James Stokes, and sound designer, musical director and composer Simon Slater. The production is produced by Denise Silvey.
The national tour opens at Belgrade Theatre in Coventry on 7 September before visiting venues across England, including York, Durham, Ipswich, Windsor, Southend, Northampton and Salford.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
