Life After Lifeline the Musical

By Shannon Guild

This spring, I spent a week on stage as part of the chorus for Lifeline, a musical featuring a soundtrack of Scottish folk music. The show tells two parallel stories: Alexander Fleming’s discovery of antibiotics in the early 20th century, and the fight against rising antibiotic resistance in a modern-day hospital.

What made Lifeline unique was its ambitious casting: 60 non-professional performers rotating through the chorus over a five-week run. Each week, 12 new individuals joined the professional cast on stage at Southwark Playhouse. The twist? All 60 were real-world healthcare workers, scientists, or policymakers who confront antibiotic resistance in their day jobs.

When I auditioned, I didn’t expect that I—Innkeeper No. 3 in the Year 4 nativity—would find myself backstage with a Britney mic taped to my face. In many ways, I was living out a childhood dream of being in a musical. Yet from the first rehearsal to the final show, I couldn’t shake the feeling that “this isn’t my life.” This was the kind of thing that happened to other people.

For most people, antibiotic resistance is also something that happens to someone else—a “superbug” in a hospital far away, a headline that barely registers on the six o’clock news. Until it happens to you, it doesn’t feel real.

Being part of Lifeline reinforced the importance of public awareness. Those of us who encounter antibiotic resistance every day understand the threat, but the wider public often doesn’t. Without public support, even the best stewardship policies will face resistance—from more than just bacteria!

So, where to now? As the euphoria of show week fades, I’ve been reflecting on what I’ll take away from Lifeline. Here are the top three lessons I hope to carry into life after Lifeline:

1. There are many battles against antibiotic resistance happening in parallel. Even within our chorus, we had doctors, nurses, scientists, policymakers, pharmacists, and entrepreneurs. Everyone shares the same goal but faces different barriers and competing priorities. We need to collaborate, pool ideas, and share expertise if we want to succeed.

2. Art can bridge gaps. You can write a song about antibiotic resistance—and when that message is brought to life by a talented cast and crew, it becomes a story that resonates and sticks.

3. If a scene involves eating a chocolate bar, choose one you like. The resentment toward salted caramel Twixes backstage was very real.

Back in our day-to-day roles, we each have an opportunity to make antibiotic resistance feel real—whether through our work, our conversations, or even a high-energy Scottish folk musical.