LIFELINE Musical Announces London Premiere at Southwark Playhouse Elephant

A powerful new British musical with a beating heart, LIFELINE will make its highly anticipated London premiere at Southwark Playhouse Elephant this spring, running from 28 March to 2 May 2026.

Inspired by the life and legacy of Sir Alexander Fleming, LIFELINE is a stirring Scottish musical that connects one of the most important medical discoveries in history with the urgent modern day crisis of antimicrobial resistance. Set across two timelines seventy years apart, the show blends big emotional storytelling with folk infused musical theatre and a deeply human core.

Fresh from an acclaimed Off Broadway run at Signature Theatre in New York, two sell out Edinburgh Fringe seasons, and a history making performance at the United Nations, LIFELINE now arrives in London with a formidable cast drawn from both West End and Broadway.

The company includes Alan Vicary, Maz McGinlay, Nathan Salstone, Kieran Brown, Helen Logan, Robbie Scott, and Kelly Glyptis, supported by an ensemble of Hannah Visocchi, Jasmine Jules Andrews, and Graham Richardson.

The musical follows two intertwined love stories. In 1950s London, Alexander Fleming is celebrated for discovering penicillin, while falling for Greek resistance fighter and scientist Amalia Voureka. In present day Edinburgh, junior doctor Jess is forced to confront her past when a former love is rushed into her hospital. As personal and professional lines blur, the show asks urgent questions about care, responsibility, and the future of medicine.

What truly sets LIFELINE apart is its extraordinary chorus. Each performance features a different group of real life doctors, nurses, scientists, microbiologists, vets, and dentists appearing alongside the professional cast and a live six piece band. This rotating chorus means no two performances are the same, grounding the story in lived experience and giving the musical a rare immediacy.

The production is directed by award winning Alex Howarth, with music and lyrics by Robin Hiley and a book by Becky Hope Palmer. Together they have created a show that feels both intimate and epic, blending humour with moments of real emotional weight.

LIFELINE is presented by Charades Theatre Company and supported by leading health and science organisations, reinforcing its mission to spark conversation as well as entertain. As antimicrobial resistance continues to pose a global threat, this musical places the issue centre stage without ever losing sight of the people at its heart.

LIFELINE runs at Southwark Playhouse Elephant from 28 March to 2 May 2026. Tickets start from £15, with a pioneers preview priced at £10.

Age guidance 12+.Running time 130 minutes including interval.