REVIEW: BRIXTON CALLING by Alex Unwin at Southwark Playhouse Borough 23 July - 16 August 2025

‘excellent backdrop to a well spun narrative’ ★★★

This is the almost unbelievable story of Simon Parkes who admits, “I bought the Brixton Academy for a quid”, and then he turned it into one of the best venues in London. For anyone indulging themselves in the London scene in the 80s and 90s this phenomenon certainly did not go un-noticed.

The Brixton Academy now has a big reputation so any telling of its story will for some people have a lot of amazing memories to live up to. Having set itself such a difficult task I think it might be a little unfair to expect a 90 minute play to equal any of those nights but judging by the audience’s reaction, it is fare to say that this play rekindled many memories and brought out a very warm response from all who saw it.

I wondered if I was the only one in the audience familiar with Eek-A-Mouse or Yellow Man but I did know that I was touched by the mention of perhaps some of the less well known artists around at the time. But wasn’t that, what made the Academy the Academy? Of course it was and I was grateful for the reminder. I felt equally as reassured with the mentioning of The Clash and UB40 when those around me clearly responded in a positive way to those names. I felt like I was in familiar company with Tendai Humphrey Sitima’s constant outpouring of musical echos from all sorts of bands from the past, so many I lost count. But what an excellent backdrop to a well spun narrative from Max Runham who acted out, explained, imitated, sang and danced his way through every possible aspect of what Simon Parkes must have lived through on his epic journey that brought so many people so much happiness for all those years. There were also a few reminders of the darker and dodgier side of the sometimes very violent environment where the Brixton Academy lives.

The directing by Bronagh Lagan kept the play ticking over at a good pace with an expertly balanced mix of anecdotes, music, humour and drama. The lights were exactly what were needed for the whole range of musical styles that the sound team blasted into your face for the raves or barely whispered in the background for Gregory Isaacs.

This play was nostalgic for many of us who knew the Academy in its hey-day but it was also a tribute to a man with a vision and the guts to have a go at putting together his dream. And, like many of the audience I was glad that he did it, entertained by what I saw and heard there and proud to have smoked and drank and danced my way through some of those gigs.

Photography: Danny Kaan

BRIXTON CALLING at Southwark Playhouse Borough 23 July - 16 August 2025

BOX OFFICE https://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/productions/brixton-calling/

Written by Alex Urwin     Directed by Bronagh Lagan

The Company

Max Runham

Simon Parkes and others

Tendai Sitima

Johnny Lawes and others (and original composition)

Alex Urwin

Writer

Bronagh Lagan

Director

John Dinneen

Producer

Katy Lipson

Associate Producer

Derek Anderson

Lighting

Nik Corrall

Set and costume

Max Pappenheim

sound