Rudy's Rare Records - Lenny Henry at Hackney Empire

The stage premiere of Rudy's Rare Records: Last Shop Standing, by Danny Robins, starring Lenny Henry, is planned to take place at the Hackney Empire, in east London, in September 2014, prior to a UK tour.

Lenny Henry, a British comedian and actor, has recently completed a tour and West End season at the Duchess Theatre as Troy Maxson in 'Fences', by August Wilson.

Rudy's Rare Records is a tiny down-at-heel old reggae record shop in Birmingham. It's one of a dying breed; a place with real soul, stacked with piles of vinyl, where the slogan is 'if we don't have it - them don't mek it'. It's owned by the charismatic, irrepressible, cantankerous Rudy Sharpe, reluctantly helped out by his long-suffering son Adam (played by Lenny Henry), but when the threat of developers looms, father and son must put their differences aside as they face a battle to keep the music alive.

The show features a live band onstage playing reggae, ska, funk and hip hop classics.