The Everyman Theatre Cheltenham, in association with Worcester Theatres and Malvernbard present

a new play by Nick Wilkes

WHEN VINCENT MET JOHN

A hypothetical meeting between John Lennon and Vincent van Gogh. Vincent died in 1890, John died in 1980, both of gunshot wounds to the chest. But imagine what might have happened, had the two greatest artists of their time, met? Five years before their deaths both men went through profound change. Vincent van Gogh finally renounced his religious ambitions and began to paint in earnest, and despite great arguments with antagonist Paul Gaugin created his life’s great masterworks. John Lennon renounced sex, drugs and rock & roll and began five years seclusion as a family unit, and despite great arguments with antagonist Paul McCartney created a son, and what would be his last album.

Is art more important than life? Which endures? And what has more value, contentment or legacy? With the clock ticking and with each man straining for something, is there a way forward for either of these two passionate, unpredictable, temperamental and volatile artists? This play takes place at their exact moment of crisis and decision, a spiralling shout of life, hate, love, death, art and legacy.