The Finale

Aviva Studios, Manchester
Watch the live stream

We celebrated 75 years of the NHS with a powerful and moving performance, directed by Kwame Kwei-Armah.

This very special, one-off show was a celebration of NHS staff, in their own words. Their stories were brought to life through music, poetry, film and dance, as NHS staff were joined on stage in Manchester by artists, performers and a live band.

Slam poet Keith Jarrett, Bristol and Weston poet in residence Beth Calverley, and Roundhouse Collective alumnus Courtney Conrad, who has performed everywhere from Glastonbury to the V&A, brought the words of staff to life through poetry and spoken word. Voices of the NHS were heard raised in song as St George’s Hospital Staff Choir perform the poignant “Who Cares for the Carers”, plus original songs “A Grateful Heart” (University Hospitals of Derby & Burton NHS Foundation Trust) “Shine Your Light” (Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust) and “A Rainbow in our Hands” ( York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust).

In a sketch written by staff at Newcastle Hospitals Trust, the late, great Michael Parkinson interviews the NHS and Cambridge University Hospitals gave us a peek into life in their laundry room with an unmissable ‘laundry room ballet’. Plus dance, theatre, all interspersed with films, animations and tributes from cultural and healthcare figures you might just recognise.

Creative Team 

• Kwame Kwei-Armah, Artistic Director
• Chris Bush, Writer
• Jennifer Tang, Associate Director
• Ruth Chan, Composer
• Teunkie Van Der Sluijs, Dramaturg

Cast

• Gabrielle Brooks 
• Michael Shaeffer 
• Robert Lonsdale 
• Naomi Wirthner 

Live Band

• Jack Hopkins, MD/Keyboard
• Matt Firkins, Drums/Percussion
• Paul Thornton, Guitars
• Ben Wiltshire, Bass
• Diane Hammond, Woodwinds