Wilko tells the story of Wilko Johnson, a musician and songwriter who was an integral part of the Dr. Feelgood band, which was formed in 1971. Written by Jonathan Maitland, it’s a night that displays Wilko’s genuine passion while also showing how the band and he grew over the years.
The play starts with Wilko Johnson’s cancer diagnosis but then leads into his history; His history with his abusive parents, becoming a teacher, cheating on his wife and appearance in Game of Thrones . There is a lot of history and of course some did feel skipped over
But of course, the key to the night was the formation of Dr Feelgood, and the whole cast’s performances was amazing. Johnson Willis did a amazing job of capturing Wilko’s essence both vocally and his personality. The musical performances were incredible, and when Jon House’s character Lee Brilleaux took the stage to play his harmonica, I clapped along, feeling as if it was truly at a Feelgood concert.
Overall the night was fun, at first I found it slightly odd as I’d never really listened to the band’s music, but as I left I could sense that joy had spread throughout the audience and Wilko was very much alive.
As Wilko says: “It’s not a jukebox musical, it’s a play with songs”
1st – 24th February 2024
Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, Billet Lane, Hornchurch RM11 1QT
All performances from 7th February will be audio described.
Dementia friendly performance on 15th February
£19 – £29.00 | Under 26 £8.00
www.queens-theatre.co.uk | 01708 443333
Running Time: 135 mins (including interval) | Suitable for ages 11+