Rock Legends come to Cheltenham for Wilko: Love, Death & Rock ’n’ Roll
Everyman Theatre Hosts Explosive Wilko Johnson Tribute Week
A brand-new play about the extraordinary life of Dr Feelgood founder and rock legend Wilko Johnson arrives at the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham next week (Tuesday 5 – Saturday 9 August), bringing with it a powerhouse line-up of special guests every night.
Fresh from a sell-out West End run at Leicester Square Theatre, Wilko: Love and Death and Rock ’n’ Roll has been described as “an incredible night out” (Theatre News) and “gloriously raw… superbly played” (Daily Mail). This uplifting and hard-hitting show blends gripping drama with blistering live music to honour Wilko’s astonishing life — from a terminal cancer diagnosis in 2012 and a refusal of treatment, to the miracle reversal of his fate one year later.
Cheltenham audiences are in for an unforgettable week, with nightly post-show appearances from musical icons including:
- Tuesday 5 August (7:30pm): Legendary bass player Norman Watt-Roy (Ian Dury and the Blockheads, The Wilko Johnson Band), Wilko’s son Simon Johnson (Eight Rounds Rapid), and Charlie Chan, the Cheltenham doctor who saved Wilko’s life.
- Wednesday 6 August (7:30pm): Cheltenham Blues Legends Night featuring Keith Thompson, Mark Cole, and Stuart Earl – presented with Vonnies Blues Club.
- Thursday 7 August (2pm): Live performance by guitarist James Oliver with drummer Mark Kemlo and Norman Watt-Roy.
- Thursday 7 August (7:30pm): Rock icons Spike (The Quireboys) and Luke Morley (Thunder) take the stage.
- Friday 8 August (7:30pm): Actor and musician Keith Allen (Trainspotting) and Nick Reynolds of Alabama 3 (The Sopranos theme) perform live.
- Saturday 9 August (2pm): Matty James Cassidy and Michael ‘Gaff’ Gaffney (The Real Villains, The Glitterati).
- Saturday 9 August (7:30pm): Special guests to be announced soon.
Writer Jonathan Maitland said, “Cheltenham is in for a really special week with a host of incredible special guests. To have so many iconic musicians join us on stage is the perfect way to continue to honour Wilko’s remarkable legacy.”
Tickets are selling fast for Wilko: Love and Death and Rock ’n’ Roll at the Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham (Tuesday 5 – Saturday 9 August). Book now.
Explore Gloucestershire
1 August 2025
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