‘Superbugs’ musical comes free to Lambeth

2 November 2018

Written by: Lambeth Council

Arts, culture and events - Children and young people - Focus on North Lambeth - Health and Wellbeing

Alexander Fleming’s chance discovery, antibiotics, have been saving lives for 90 years. But bacterial resistance is growing! What better way to fight back than with an epic musical?

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‘Superbugs’ musical comes free to Lambeth

Hit Edinburgh Fringe musical The Mould that Changed the World, telling the story of antibiotics and the rise of “superbugs”, is coming to Lambeth. Antibiotics are essential medicines for treating bacterial infections in both humans and animals. However, global overuse of antibiotics is contributing to antibiotic resistance which means that it is becoming increasingly difficult to cure these infections.

Antibiotics for the future

This free family show and accompanying workshops explore why we need to protect antibiotics for the future. There are three performances at the Ovalhouse Theatre, Sunday 18 November 2018, during World Antibiotic Awareness Week.

Singers and medics

The musical is performed by a stellar cast of musical theatre professionals and a chorus of health care professionals from across the UK with a huge range of medical and scientific backgrounds, from district nurses to microbiologists working in AMR research

Message for children – and adults

Director of Public Health for Lambeth Council, Ruth Hutt, said: “I felt it raised the hugely important issue of antibiotic resistance in a way that could really get the message across particularly to children, whose future will be most impacted by the issues. By bringing this musical to Lambeth I hope we can start a conversation with residents which enables us to share knowledge, experience and answer questions people have.

“With this year marking 90 years since Fleming’s discovery of penicillin, the need for collective action has never been more important. Without effective antibiotics many routine treatments will become increasingly dangerous. Setting broken bones, basic operations, even cancer treatments and animal health all rely on access to antibiotics that work.

“The event is open to everyone and free so I hope that families and people who work and live in Lambeth will come and enjoy the musical and the activities.”

For more information

  • Book online or call 020 7582 7680 for 3 x free performances at Ovalhouse
  • Suitable for over- 8s
  • The show is a collaboration between Charades Musicals, British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy and the University of Edinburgh supported by Lambeth Council Public Health.
  • Watch the video