You’ve just a few days left to catch the acclaimed world premiere production of cult Korean one-person rock musical The Last Man, running at Southwark Playhouse Elephant until Saturday 13 June 2026.
Described by Musical Theatre Review as a “pop-punk treat” (★★★★) and a “riveting piece of solo theatre” by Broadway World (★★★★), The Last Man has been newly reimagined for English-speaking audiences in this premiere, inviting audiences deep into a bunker for an intimate experience of one individual’s struggle to hold on to hope, connection and humanity
A mysterious virus spreads across the globe. Cities fall silent. The undead roam. A lone survivor seals themself inside bunker B-103 after a mysterious virus wipes out humanity. As isolation takes hold, the line between survival and living begins to blur. Now they must decide: is survival enough — or should they open the bunker door.
Director Daljung Kim has brought together Lex Lee and Nabi Brown, who share the central role across the run, performing on alternate nights and offering distinct interpretations of the survivor.
In this new English-language adaptation by Jishik Kim (book) and Seungyeon Kwon (music), with dramaturgy by Jethro Compton, the piece blends gig, existential thriller and social commentary, following the eponymous survivor who appears to be the last human alive after a zombie apocalypse. Lyrics are by musical supervisor, co-orchestrator and arranger Gabriel Chernick.
The Last Man is a gripping one-person musical that plunges audiences into the heart of a global catastrophe. Driven by an electrifying live rock score, this psychological thriller is packed with explosive energy, dark wit, and razor-sharp storytelling that questions what it truly means to be human.
Driven by a live rock score, dark humour, and psychological tension, The Last Man tells an intimate and thrillingly suspenseful story of survival, resilience and what it takes to remain human in a frightening and uncertain world.
Also in the creative team are set designer Shankho Chaudhuri, lighting designer Cheolmin Cho, sound designer Liam McDermott and costume designer Anna Kelsey.
The Last Man, which has built a passionate fanbase not only in Seoul but also in China, is now entering its third season in Korea.
Bios
Lex Lee is a Kiwi-Korean actor based in London. With a background spanning theatre and performance across New Zealand, Australia and Berlin, credits include works Handel’s Messiah, War Hero and West Side Story.
Nabi Brown is a recent graduate of Trinity Laban and her credits include Dick Whittington and His Cat (Greenwich Theatre) and Diana The Musical (Lambert Jackson productions).
Daljung Kim is a Seoul-based director with a prolific career spanning film, musicals and plays. His recent work focuses on developing and directing original Korean musicals including The Last Man, Mahagonny and Gloomy Sunday. His other stage credits include the successful Korean productions of An Iliad, Hedwig and the Angry Inch and The Spitfire Grill.
Jethro Compton is an award-winning Cornish director, designer, independent theatre producer and writer for stage and screen. His directing credits include, for Jethro Compton Productions, The Bunker Trilogy and The Capone Trilogy, as well as his own writing including The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The Frontier Trilogy, Sirenia, Wolf’s Blood and the Olivier Award-winning musical The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
The Last Man runs at Southwark Playhouse Elephant, 1 Dante Place, London SE11 4RX until 13 January 2026. Show times: 7pm (Monday to Saturday) and Thursday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm. Ticket prices: Standard from £24, Concession from £19.50. Box Office: 020 7407 0234. Running time: one hour, 40 minutes, plus interval. Recommended for ages 14-plus. The Last Man’s depiction of solitary survival in a harsh and confined environment might make certain scenes in the production feel psychologically unsettling for some audience members.
southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/productions/the-last-man
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