“Pick of the Fringe”
— Ian Rankin
Spurs and Scotland star John White was one of the best footballers of the 1960s. However, in July 1964, he was struck by lightning and killed at just 27 years old. From humble beginnings outside Edinburgh to football fame and his tragic death, the play captures John’s cheeky humour and follows the journey of his son, Rob White, who was only five months old when his father died.
Based on the Sunday Times bestseller by Rob White and Julie Welch, the play was commissioned to mark 60 years since John White’s passing. This deeply personal and nostalgic story offers a fresh perspective on grief, growing up without a father, and male mental health.
The Ghost of White Hart Lane premiered at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in July 2024 — the first live play performed at the venue — before a month-long run at Underbelly, Edinburgh Fringe in 2024. Loved by audiences and critics alike during the run here at Jackson’s Lane (summer 2025). We are delighted to welcome back The Ghost of White Hart Lane, returning by popular demand to the Jackson’s Lane stage in January 2026.