Wilko: Love & Death & Rock'n'Roll at The Palace Theatre

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 Southend, 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.

A series of special guests will play with the cast band at the finale of each show:

Monday 12 Oct - Simon Johnson (Eight Rounds Rapid, Wilko’s son) and Norman Watt-Roy (Ian Dury and the Blockheads, Wilko Johnson Band ) plus post-show Q&A with writer Jonathan Maitland and Charlie Chan, the Doctor who saved Wilko’s life.

Tue 13 Oct - Ruts DC (Segs and Leigh) (TBC) and Johnny Squirrel ( Lew Lewis Reformer)

Wed 14 Oct - Ruts DC (Segs and Leigh) (TBC) and Johnny Squirrel (Lew Lewis Reformer)

Thu 15 Oct, 7:30pm performance - Steve “West “ Weston (Wilko Johnson Band, Roger Daltrey Band)

Fri 16 Oct - Nine Below Zero

Sat 17 Oct 2:30pm performance - Jeff Chapman (The Roosters) and Malcolm Wilkinson ( Wilko’s‘s brother and member of his Canvey jug band)

Sat 18 Oct 7:30pm performance: - Billy Bragg