Exposing the cracks in a system built to punish
Synergy’s Artistic Director Esther Baker will direct Peter Wight as Lenny in Evan Placey’s new play Lifers – a powerful and deeply human look at ageing behind bars and the stories we tell to survive.
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, prison officer Mark keeps an eye on him. What begins as a duty of care slowly 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?
Peter Wight is a celebrated actor with a prolific career across stage and screen. Peter is perhaps best known for his collaboration with Mike Leigh on Meantime, Naked, Vera Drake, Another Year and Mr Turner.
For TV, Peter has enjoyed long-running roles in the BBC sitcom Early Doors as Policeman Nige and police drama Out of Blue.
Evan Placey is a Canadian-British playwright and screenwriter who lives in London, UK. His debut play Mother of Him won the inaugural RBC National Playwriting Award at the Tarragon Theatre in Toronto, the King’s Cross Award in the UK, and the Samuel French Canadian Play Award in the USA.
Esther Baker is the Artistic Theatre of Synergy Theatre Project. Established in 2000, Synergy Theatre Project is an award-winning theatre company working with prisoners and ex-prisoners, producing shows in both theatre and within prisons, delivering education projects for young people and new writing initiatives to develop playwrights in prison.
The company has gained recognition for its work and most recently received the Community Award at the Stage Awards 2025. Other awards include the 2021 The Stage 100 Award for its provision during the pandemic, shortlisted for both the 2022 and 2023 London Youth Awards, and the 2023 Creative Circle Award (Bronze, Silver and Gold), 2024 Smiley Charity Film Award and 2024 Offies (Off West End) ‘Theatre for Young Audiences’ Award.
Southwark Playhouse Borough, The Large, 77-85 Newington Causeway, London, SE1 6BD from 1st – 25th October.
Booking and full details: https://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/productions/lifers/
