The Last Man
14 May 2026
Southwark Playhouse Elephant
4.0 out of 5.0 stars
The Last Man, currently playing at the Southwark Playhouse Elephant until 13 June, is an apocalyptic Korean rock musical, newly reimagined for its English language premiere in London.
A lone survivor hunkers down in a self-made bunker as the Zombie apocalypse unfolds outside. Through their extensive knowledge of zombie movies, they feel well prepared for the apocalypse, but as time drags on and supplies run out, they deteriorate through fear and isolation.
The stage is very effective for this production, a long stretch of concrete wall with a tiny high window, a strong door reinforced with many locks, a sleeping nook and a bathroom door represent the half-underground apartment, known as banjiha, the survivor has chosen as their hideout. There’s an air filtration system, a specialised plant growing area, piles of instant noodles, and boxes upon boxes of supplies. The small upstairs area above houses the band playing the live score of intense rock music that dominates this gorgeous musical.
While it might seem strange to have one person on stage, alone in isolation, the survivor brings a lot of life to the performance. Recording their experience through their mobile phone, talking to themselves and a teddy bear, pacing and shouting, there’s a lot of action happening despite the one-person cast. The plot progresses extremely well, from a hopeful survivor at first to growing desperation as supplies and food run low. The musical contains moments of extreme distress and handles mental health themes with a deft touch.
The score carries a lot of weight, with roaring power ballads and pumping rock tunes, it works extremely well for the zombie apocalypse theme. Peppered with movie references and apocalypse tropes, The Last Man is an intense and very well structured musical that will definitely find a cult following in time.
This production sees the role shared between two performers, Nabi Brown and Lex Lee, who alternate performances throughout the run, giving audiences a great reason to return again to see the two different versions play out on stage. I will definitely be back again!
