Collette Cooper's Janis Joplin 'gig play' at Old Red Lion, Islington

Tomorrow May Be My Last started out at Islington's Old Red Lion and won the London Pub Theatre Standing Ovation award for best solo show, and was nominated for four 'Offies'.

It returns to the venue for a three-month residency, bringing the energy of a psychedelic Summer of Love gig to the tiny pub theatre. Not only will punters see the star's life story and greatest hits performed by Cooper and a live band, but they get a free Alabama Slammer cocktail with their ticket.

And on most evenings the festival vibe carries on post show with live music in the pub.

Tomorrow May Be My Last summons the energy of a summer of love rock gig (Image: Courtesy of Collette Cooper)

Cooper, who also writes and directs, says she didn't know much about the star until she was compared to her.

"I only got to know Janis Joplin because somebody told me I should play her in a biopic. I always wanted to combine my acting and singing but was never interested in doing musicals. This show isn't a musical, it's what they call 'a gig play,' driven by music, set in a Woodstock vibe festival and backstage in her dressing room with an incredible live band."

Switching between euphoric performances of the likes of Me and Bobby McGee, and Piece of My Heart, and the dressing room at a pivotal moment in Joplin's life, the show evokes an era of oppression, rebellion, and enlightenment in the story of a small-town girl’s journey from adolescent outcast to music star.Tomorrow May Be My Last is at The Old Red Lion in Islington (Image: Robin Pope)

Once Cooper started to research Joplin she says: "I realised we had so much in common, politically, musically. I just fell in love with her story and her music. Luckily, we have a similar vocal style, powerful and husky, but our phrasings are very different and I naturally sing in a lower resister while Janis is a natural soprano, so I had to work hard on that.

"Now it's like my second skin and I just zone into her. Is it exhausting? Oh yeh! It's like a marathon every night. Janis Joplin couldn't play Janis Joplin herself every night - especially with the lifestyle she chose."

Tomorrow May Be My Last (Image: Courtesy of Collette Cooper)

The show uses dark humour and has been described as an emotional rollercoaster.

"I wanted to convey a multitude of emotions which is exactly what Janis was," says Cooper. "So fasten your seat belts when you come to see it!"

Joplin did indeed play Woodstock in the summer of '69 before dying of a heroin overdose the following October at the age of just 27. While Cooper delves into her complex personality and demons, she says: "I didn't overly focus on her drug abuse as she had many other fundamental issues and struggles, including bullying, low self-esteem, shyness and loneliness.

"But she was also a brilliant human, funny and very outgoing at times who enjoyed a good laugh with her favourite tipple, Southern Comfort, it was just very sad that she felt she needed to resort to drugs!"Playgoers will see Collette perform Janis Joplin's greatest hits during the show (Image: Robin Pope)

The idea of handing out a complimentary cocktail with every ticket was "to give it an immersive feel with the pre and post-show vibe."

"As soon as you walk into the building you will feel transported back to a Woodstock vibe festival with artists performing within that era. That same vibe will continue when you enter the theatre to watch the story of Janis Joplin, and we wanted to continue the vibe post show and keep the festival going all night with various artist performing songs of Joni Mitchel and Bob Dylan. It's a fun, uplifting night for all ages."

Tomorrow May Be My Last with Collette Cooper runs at the Old Red Lion, St John Street, Islington from February 14 until May 6.https://www.oldredliontheatre.co.uk/