The Life

A thrilling, defiant and heartfelt musical lament for New York in the 1980s.

The Life is an enthralling, compelling look at the old Times Square; a world that was home to innocents and opportunists, pimps and prostitutes, city sophisticates and midwestern dreamers. It’s a rollercoaster of excitement and emotion.

The story follows a group of New Yorkers who are just trying to survive in the city. Queen, a naive girl from Savannah, has been forced into prostitution to support the drug habit of her lover Fleetwood, a Vietnam vet. Meanwhile, Sonja’s market value as a hooker is diminishing. But then Mary, a mysterious innocent farm girl, shows up. And soon Memphis and Joio, the biggest players in town, are offering to help Queen out. Is there a lifeline out of the Square and away from this way of life?

The Life, described by the New York Times as “Broadway’s best kept secret”, features a rarely heard score by celebrated composer Cy Coleman (City of Angels, Sweet Charity, Barnum). It is based on an original idea by lyricist Ira Gasman, with a book by Coleman, Gasman and David Newman.

The original production of The Life, directed by Michael Blakemore, opened on April 26, 1997. It received 12 Tony nominations – of which it won two; and nine Drama Desk Awards – of which it won three, including Best Musical. Michael Blakemore returns to direct the work in London, for a strictly limited season from 25 March-29 April 2018. At the Southwark Playhouse, it stars stage legends Sharon D Clarke and Cornell S John.