Videography by Rich Southgate
Inside the walls of HMP Drummond, Baxter, Norton and Lenny pass the time with poker, banter, and the kind of gallows humour only lifers can muster.
When Lenny’s body starts to give out, young prison officer Mark keeps an eye on him. What begins as a duty of care becomes an unexpected friendship, exposing the cracks in a system built to punish, not to support.
Darkly funny and unflinchingly honest, Lifers challenges what we think we know about crime, punishment, and redemption. Do some crimes make a second chance impossible? And when the world moves on without you, what does justice really mean?
A compelling look at ageing, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive.
★★★★ “Poignant, honest and affecting” The Stage
★★★★ “Refreshing, hilariously honest” London Theatre Reviews
★★★★ “Beautifully written and acted” Broadway World
★★★★ “Peter Wight plays Lenny terrifically” Broadway Baby
★★★★ “Thoroughly researched and authentic” Adventures in Theatreland
★★★★ Everything Theatre | ★★★★ London Theatre 1 | ★★★★ Lou Reviews
Access Performances
Captioned Performances
- Friday 17 October 7pm
- Saturday 18 October, 2.30pm
- Saturday 18 October, 7pm
Post Show Events
Post Show events are free to attend with a ticket to that evening’s performance.
Monday 13 October – Q&A with Synergy Theatre Project cast and creatives
Join the cast and creative team behind Lifers for a post-show discussion exploring the making of the production, the themes of ageing, justice and incarceration, and the real-life experiences that shaped the story.
Monday 20 October – Panel discussion: Can dignity survive a life sentence?
Join us for a post show panel discussion with criminal justice system experts. Drawing on lived and professional experience, the panel will explore the realities of ageing in prison, the challenges facing long-term prisoners, and what care, justice, and rehabilitation should look like.
Panelists include:
- Lynn Saunders OBE (Professor of Applied Criminology, Derby University, and former Governor, HMP Whatton)
- Simon Scott (Head of Business Development, User Voice, serving a life sentence on licence)
- Andrea Coomber KC (Hon.) Chief Executive, Howard League for Penal Reform
- Paul Grainge (CEO, Recoop)
Synergy Theatre Project inspires change through groundbreaking work across theatre and the criminal justice system.
Details
Theatre: The Large
Monday – Saturday: 7pm
Tuesday & Saturday: 2.30pm
Running Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
No interval and no re-entry.
We strongly advise that you arrive early and take your seats in advance of the start time as there is a no latecomers policy.
Recommended for ages 14+.
This production contains strong language, loud noises, violence and haze. Discriminatory references are made throughout, including homophobic language. There are also explicit sexual references and references to mental and physical illness and death.
Please contact us if you require any further information about content guidance.
Monday 13 October – Q&A with Synergy Theatre Project cast and creatives
Monday 20 October – Panel discussion: Can dignity survive a life sentence?
Post Show events are free to attend with a ticket to that evening’s performance.
Photography
Production Shots
Photography by Rich Southgate
A Peek into Rehearsals
Meet the Director and Writer
The Company
James Backway
Mark
Sam Cox
Norton
Ricky Fearon
Baxter
Mona Goodwin
Sonya
