A groundbreaking new theatre production exploring the extraordinary life of Julia Lennon, mother of John Lennon, is coming to Liverpool’s Epstein Theatre this September.
Julia’s Song promises to reveal the woman behind one of the most famous names in music history, bringing Julia Lennon’s remarkable story centre stage and exploring the profound influence she had on her son long before The Beatles changed popular music forever.
Taking place at The Epstein Theatre from 10th–12th September 2026, the production presents Julia not simply as John Lennon’s mother, but as a fascinating character in her own right: vivacious, rebellious, musical, funny and determined to live life on her own terms. For Beatles fans who know the tragedy of Julia’s early death but perhaps much less about the woman herself, the play promises a revealing and deeply emotional journey.
Julia Lennon was a hugely important influence on the young John. Musically gifted and full of fun, she loved music and played the banjo, encouraging her son’s own developing passion for performing. Julia’s Song explores that relationship and the musical connection between mother and son, presenting Julia as one of the people who helped ignite the spark that would eventually lead Lennon towards The Beatles.
But her own life was filled with drama long before her son became famous. The story begins with Julia as a carefree teenager in Liverpool, taking audiences back to 1929 and her meeting with John’s future father, Freddie Lennon, in Sefton Park. From there, the production follows Julia through the changing world of the 1930s and the upheaval of the Second World War. Her complicated personal life, romances and controversies are explored alongside her infectious sense of fun and love of music.
Rather than treating Julia merely as a supporting character in John Lennon’s story, the production puts her experiences, personality and choices at its heart. As the story moves into the 1950s, audiences see the young John Lennon increasingly drawn towards music. The play takes in one of the defining periods in Liverpool’s cultural history, including Lennon’s meeting with Paul McCartney and the formation of The Quarrymen – the skiffle group that would ultimately evolve into The Beatles.
Julia lived long enough to witness the beginnings of her son’s musical journey, but tragically never saw where it would lead. The production builds towards the devastating events of 1958, when Julia was killed at the age of just 44. Her death came at an extraordinary moment in John’s young life, shortly after Lennon and The Quarrymen had made their first recording. The loss of his mother would have a profound and lasting impact on him, later finding expression in some of his most personal songwriting.
By placing Julia’s own story alongside the earliest chapters of Lennon’s musical development, Julia’s Song offers audiences a different perspective on a history many Beatles fans may feel they already know. Music is naturally at the heart of the production. Julia’s Song is written and directed by Sylvia Hall and produced by Brian McCann, with the show featuring six original songs written by Tom McConnell and Peter Davies.
Those songs help bring Julia’s musical personality to life while connecting the different periods of a story spanning almost three decades. The result promises to be both a celebration of Julia’s spirit and an emotional exploration of a complicated woman whose influence can be traced through the life and music of her famous son. The talented cast comprises of some of Liverpool theatre’s brightest stars, including Alison Crawford, Florence King, Olivia Whittaker, Luke Seddon and Adam Johnson.
Playwright Sylvia Hall, 77, is a Beatles expert who spent more than a decade as custodian of Paul McCartney’s childhood home. She said: “The more I learned about Julia, the more I wanted to understand the woman behind the stories and the labels. She was complex, vibrant, funny and full of life — and above all, she deserved to be remembered in her own right. This production will give audiences an insight into her life, and indeed John’s, like never before.”
For Beatles devotees, Lennon fans and anyone fascinated by Liverpool’s musical history, Julia’s Song offers the opportunity to discover a story that has rarely been given the spotlight in its own right. Julia Lennon was a mother and muse, but she was also a musician, a rebel and a larger-than-life Liverpool character with a compelling story of her own. This September, that story finally takes centre stage.
Julia’s Song / 10th-12th September 2026 / The Epstein Theatre, Liverpool
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