Love and Death and Rock ‘N’ Roll tells the astonishing story of Wilko Johnson, rock ‘n’ roll icon, founder of the legendary band Dr Feelgood and Game of Thrones star. Wilko (Johnson Willis) was one of the most distinctive British guitarists with a hair trigger style combining stark percussive chords with pin-sharp riffs without a plectrum.

In 2012, Wilko was diagnosed with inoperable cancer and given a year to live. He refused medical treatment and chose to devote his remaining time to more meaningful pursuits, focusing on visiting the people, places and things which meant most to him during his extraordinary life.

By his own account, it suddenly revamped his career and attracted international media attention. He recorded a number one album with Roger Daltrey, embarked on a sold-out farewell tour.

This show is best described as an autobiographical monologue with musical interludes. Wilko tells his story from his Canvey Island beginnings with an abusive father, via his first Fender Stratocaster to his death sentence and a lucky meeting with a Cambridge Professor of Medicine. Johnson Willis has a powerful stage presence, clad in a black suit, capturing the mannerisms, speech patterns, and guitar playing of Wilko.

The small but very talented cast of Georgina Fairbanks, Georgina Field, Jon House and David John successfully provide a multitude of roles, as his wife, parents, friends and fans changing personae with a simple addition of a head scarf, academic gown or change of accent.  Jon House as vocalist Brilleaux, Georgina Field (Sparko) and David John (Big Figure) really come in to their own as the guitarist and drummer of the band respectively. The audience came alive when they played musicians in Dr Feelgood.

 The script focusses a little too heavily on Wilko’s university attendance and his self-belief as a poet. A little less talking and a little more music would have made a better balance. There were a few sound issues with a mike and guitar tuning but Jon House covered these with a quip and some humorous hymn singing.

In this special production for Leicester Square Theatre the band are joined after the curtain call by a special guest for a twenty-minute set of a few old favourites from Dr Feelgood and this is what the fans had been waiting for! Thursday night 3rd July the guest star was James Oliver and Norman Watt-Roy.

Willis’s performance and its music make it a worthwhile experience for fans of Wilko Johnson and rock music in general but there may not be enough to entice a new younger Gane of Thrones audience.

3 and half stars

Reviewed by Nina Gardner

Wilko: Love and Death and Rock ‘N’ Roll playing at Leicester Square Theatre 3rd July – 27th July 2025

See link below for tickets and further information about the special guests.

Special Guest Thursday, 3 July 2025, 3pm: James Oliver, Norman Watt-Roy, and drummer 

CAST:
Georgina Fairbanks
Georgina Field
Jon House
David John
Johnson Willis as Wilko Johnson

CREATIVES:
Writer: Jonathan Maitland
Director: Dugald Bruce-Lockhart
Designer: Nicolai Hart Hansen
Lighting designer: James Stokes
Sound designer & composer: Simon Slater
Producer: Denise Silvey
Production manager: Roy Gould
Costume supervisor: Caroline Hannam