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NHS staff star in musical on antibiotic resistance

Alpa PatelLondon
BBC Ashley Brown is seen in a pink and white striped shirt with a rainbow NHS lanyard stands next to Mainga Bhima in burgundy medical scrubs with a stethoscope around her neck. They are both smiling in an indoor setting with industrial-style lighting in the background.BBC
Prof Ashley Brown and Dr Mainga Bhima are among those taking from the wards to the stage

A musical exploring the global threat of antibiotic resistance has made its London premiere, featuring a chorus of 60 NHS healthcare workers.

Lifeline follows the story of Sir Alexander Fleming's discovery of penicillin at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington in 1928, weaving his historical journey with a contemporary narrative centred on a junior doctor in Edinburgh.

The production aims to highlight the urgent reality of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a crisis Fleming himself warned of decades ago.

Prof Ashley Brown, a consultant at St Mary's who has worked at the institution for 25 years, said "singing is good for the heart".

A group of nine performers in medical scrubs and various outfits pose together on the teal-patterned stage floor. One performer in a wheelchair holds an acoustic guitar and a clapperboard.
Lifeline runs at the Southwark Playhouse in Elephant and Castle until 2 May

Brown described balancing his clinical responsibilities with rehearsals as a challenge, often heading to the theatre during his breaks before returning to the wards.

The production's chorus is comprised entirely of medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, and microbiologists.

"Everyone should sing more often," Brown said.

"I think we should be able to prescribe singing on the NHS because I think it would cure a lot of ills."

Robin Hiley is seen in a blue shirt and jeans sits on an elevated part of the wooden set, holding an acoustic guitar.
Producer Robin Hiley said the musical's story has proven an "easy sell" to audiences

Dr Mainga Bhima, who is also part of the company, said that while managing the demands of the doctor's rota required careful planning and shift swaps, the experience of performing provided a different kind of energy.

"It's kind of energising in a different way. I never feel tired when I leave the theatre , even if I felt tired when I came in."

The musical, written by Robin Hiley and Becky Hope-Palmer, previously made history as the first musical to be performed on the floor of the United Nations General Assembly in 2024.

A wide shot of the Lifeline stage set, featuring wooden grid-like structures with teal glowing panels. Multiple performers are dressed in medical scrubs and professional clothing, interacting across the stage.
The musical covers Alexander Fleming's penicillin discovery as well as contemporary health stories

The production arrived at the Southwark Playhouse Elephant following successful runs at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Producer Robin Hiley, whose wife is a palliative care doctor, acknowledged that the failure of antibiotics might seem an unconventional subject for musical theatre.

"On the face of it, a musical about antibiotics not working doesn't necessarily strike you as something that's a traditional subject matter for a musical," he said.

"Now I think it's quite an easy sell. It's talking about something that's relevant to every single one of us on this planet."

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