WILKO – Love and death and rock'n roll by Jonathan Maitland. Southwark Playhouse, the Large, 77 Newington Causeway, London SE1 to 19 April 2025, 3☆☆☆. Review: William Russell.
Photo Credit: Mark Sepple.
WILKO – Love and death and rock'n roll by Jonathan Maitland. Southwark Playhouse, the Large, 77 Newington Causeway, London SE1 to 19 April 2025,
3☆☆☆. Review: William Russell.
“Rocky horror show.”
If sex, drugs and rock n'roll was your thing then this could be the show for you. As a recreation of a 1970 something concert in which Dr Feelgood, the band fronted by Lee Brilleaux in which Wilko Johnson played a mean guitar, it is passable but as a monologue play with music, although Johnson Willis delivers a decent performance as a man who did it his way, while it passes the time you have to know who Wilko was to care learning about him and Jonathan Maitland's clunky script does not help. It is an irony of life that Wilko, if he is known to the world at large today it is because aged 64 he turned actor appearing in two seasons of Game of Thrones as Ilyn Payne, a mute executioner. After Dr Feelgood and he fell out he played with other bands and was regarded as a considerable guitarist in the world of punk rock 'n roll. Hebecame news again in 2013 after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and given 12 months to live, at first refusing all treatment. He did eventually agree to a massive operation, survived, performed from time to time over the years, dying in November 2022 at his home in Westcliffe on Sea. Born in Canvey Island John Andrew Wilson, he went to Newcastle University, got a BA in English literature, married Irene Knight, his childhood sweetheart, had two sons, was regularly unfaithful, joined Dr Feelgood, became Wilko, and lived the rock star life to the full just as he pleased regardless of how he affected others. John House as Brilleaux delivers the Dr Feelgood hits forcefully, David John as the drummer Big Figure drums away in loud and dazzling style. Just listen to the songs and the evening is a passable rock concert but as a play about man's life it is dull and clumsily constructed and never manages to make one grateful for finding out about him. Wilko was selfish and, as he said himself, “an arsehole” although he was also when confronted with his cancer very brave indeed. Johnson Willis essays the Wilko stage personality and his manic playing style well enough as far as one can tell, but he is overshone by the front man Brilleaux, so called because his hair looks like Brillo, here as in real life. He manages to deliver Wilko's views on life, death, and the whole damn thing with some force while Georgina Fairbanks seizes what chances she gets to create that long suffering wife. But ultimately it is a rocky horror of a tribute show.
Cast
Georgina Fairbanks – Irene Knight
Georgina Field – Sparke
John House – Lee Brilleaux
David John – Big Figure
Johnson Willis – Wilko Johnson
Creatives
Director – Dugald Bruce-Lockhart
Set & Costume Designer – Nicolai Hart-Hansent
Lighting Designer – James Stokes
Costume Supervisor – Caroline Hannam
Composer & Sound Designer – Simon Slater