A fusion of live jazz and theatre will take centre stage at Southwark Playhouse Borough as MILES. explores the life, legend, and legacy of Miles Davis. The production runs from 4 February to 7 March 2026, with press night on Monday 9 February at 7.30pm.
Following a sell-out run at Summerhall Arts during Edinburgh Fringe 2025, MILES. is written and directed by Oliver Kaderbhai and produced by :DELIRIUM: and Lauren Reed Productions. The show delves into the creative chaos behind Kind of Blue, the best-selling jazz album of all time.
Led by acclaimed trumpeter Jay Phelps (Wynton Marsalis, Shabaka Hutchings, Amy Winehouse, Wizkid) alongside Benjamin Akintuyosi, the dynamic two-hander blends live jazz and multi-rolling performance. The duo embodies a shifting cast of characters—including Davis himself—as the production moves fluidly through time, memory, and influence.
Inspired by Davis’ autobiography, archival recordings, and extensive research, MILES. captures the sound, pressure, and innovation of an artist who redefined modern music. The result is a hypnotic, smoke-laced fever dream exploring addiction, reinvention, and the explosive cost of genius.
Writer and director Oliver Kaderbhai said:
“Bringing Miles’ story to Southwark Playhouse Borough 100 years after his birth feels like the perfect place to explore the legacy of a complex man whose music transcends time, place and race whilst being rooted in all of those things. The Playhouse sits neatly between the beating heart of London’s contemporary jazz scene in Peckham and the storied history of haunts like Ronnie Scotts in Soho and the 606 in Chelsea. Miles’s album, ‘Kind of Blue’ resonates with a contemporary audience as much, if not more than it did when it was released in 1959. He created something extraordinary in a time of deep civil division and personal turmoil, and, somehow, that felt hopeful to me.”
Running time is 90 minutes, and the production is suitable for ages 14+. Previews run from 4–7 February at £16, with standard tickets priced at £28 and concessions at £22.50.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
